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Grandmother's Tale and Selected Stories
By R. K. Narayan. 1994
"It is not too much to compare Mr. Narayan to Chekhov." -The New York TimesThere is no better introduction to…
R.K. Narayan than this remarkable collection of stories celebrating work that spans five decades. Characters include a storyteller whose magical source of tales dries up, a love-stricken husband who is told by astrologers he must sleep with a prostitute to save his dying wife, a pampered child who discovers that his beloved uncle may be an impostor or even a murderer. Standing supreme amid this rich assortment of stories is the title novella. Told by the narrator's grandmother, the tale recounts the adventures of her mother, married at seven and then abandoned, who crosses the subcontinent to extract her husband from the hands of his new wife. Her courage is immense and her will implacable -- but once her mission is completed, her independence vanishes. Gentle irony, wryly drawn characters, and themes at once Indian and universal mark these humane stories, which firmly establish Narayan as one of the world's preeminant storytellers.Adverbs: A Novel
By Daniel Handler. 2006
Hello.I am Daniel Handler, the author of this book. Did you know that authors often write the summaries that appear…
on their book's dust jacket? You might want to think about that the next time you read something like, "A dazzling page-turner, this novel shows an internationally acclaimed storyteller at the height of his astonishing powers."Adverbs is a novel about love -- a bunch of different people, in and out of different kinds of love. At the start of the novel, Andrea is in love with David -- or maybe it's Joe -- who instead falls in love with Peter in a taxi. At the end of the novel, it's Joe who's in the taxi, falling in love with Andrea, although it might not be Andrea, or in any case it might not be the same Andrea, as Andrea is a very common name. So is Allison, who is married to Adrian in the middle of the novel, although in the middle of the ocean she considers a fling with Keith and also with Steve, whom she meets in an automobile, unless it's not the same Allison who meets the Snow Queen in a casino, or the same Steve who meets Eddie in the middle of the forest. . . . It might sound confusing, but that's love, and as the author -- me -- says, "It is not the nouns. The miracle is the adverbs, the way things are done." This novel is about people trying to find love in the ways it is done before the volcano erupts and the miracle ends. Yes, there's a volcano in the novel. In my opinion a volcano automatically makes a story more interesting.Don't Ever Wonder: A Novel
By Darren Coleman. 2005
Nate, a "reformed" womanizer, is still recovering from a tragedy and swears that his days of being a player are…
over. Has his new faith and new woman really tamed him, or is he just biding his time until he re-enters the game? Brendan is the type of man every woman wants -- until she gets one. But, since his heart was broken, Brendan has vowed never to commit again. Cory, a successful businessman, has it all on track. Or does he? Will his affair with his sister-in-law come back to haunt him?Each man must confront his own ideal of manhood and intimacy as he embarks on an emotional roller-coaster -- one that will keep you on the edge of your seat, as well as give women an inside look at what brothers really want.A Letter to the Luminous Deep (The Sunken Archive)
By Sylvie Cathrall. 2024
'An underwater treasure-chest to be slowly unpacked, full of things I adore: nosy and loving families, epistolary romance, gorgeous worldbuilding,…
and anxious scholars doing their best to meet the world with kindness and curiosity' Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous LightA charming fantasy set in an underwater world with magical academia and a heartwarming penpal romance, perfect for fans of A Marvellous Light and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.'s home, and she and Henerey vanish.A year later, E.'s sister Sophy, and Henerey's brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery of their siblings' disappearances with the letters, sketches and field notes left behind. As they uncover the wondrous love their siblings shared, Sophy and Vyerin learn the key to their disappearance - and what it could mean for life as they know it.Praise for Sylvie Cathrall:'With its gorgeous underwater setting and whimsical academic sensibility, A Letter to the Luminous Deep is a strange, epistolary wonder.' Mary McMyne, author of The Book of Gothel'A shimmering, delicately crafted delight. . . Readers looking for heart warming romance and scholarly mystery against the backdrop of a wildly imaginative world will be charmed' H.G. Parry, author of The Magician's Daughter'Cathrall's debut caught me up on a wave of whimsy and swept me away with its charm. A story to be cherished' Lyra Selene, author of A Feather So Black'A Letter to the Luminous Deep is a fascinating and charming story told in a uniquely elegant voice. A watery wonder of a novel! I loved it.' Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches 'A Letter to the Luminous Deep is like nothing I've read before. The heartfelt intimacy of the epistolary narrative, juxtaposed with the magnificent oceanic world-building, results in a novel that is at once deeply human and mind-bogglingly imaginative. Both the setting and the story are exquisite, but it was the lovingly crafted voices of the characters that kept me hooked from beginning to end' Megan Bannen, author of The Undertaking of Hart and MercyDegrees of Engagement: The smart and sexy fake engagement rom-com you won't want to put down!
By Jennifer Hennessy. 2024
'Fake engagements, nosy friends, and the unfortunate dilemma of falling for that guy in your PhD program - Degrees of…
Engagement is sexy and heartfelt, about pursuing your passions, and the people who are passionate about you. Be prepared to fall in love with Hennessy's bookish heroine and her brooding modern-day Indiana Jones' ASHLEY POSTON'Full of sweet heat, banter, and a beautiful, long-anticipated connection, DEGREES OF ENGAGEMENT is an ode to the many paths life can take-and what happens when you let the right person go on the journey with you' GRACE REILLY'A swoony, horny heartache that Ali Hazelwood fans will be clamouring for. I loved it!' LIZZIE HUXLEY-JONESA celebration of non-traditional milestones and a book for anyone who's been patiently waiting for their own achievements to be noticed, Degrees of Engagement is the hot new romantic comedy perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis.Bianca Dimitriou has attended countless bridal showers, bachelorette weekends and destination weddings for her friends and family. But when they all fail to show up to celebrate her PhD, she realises it just isn't a milestone they value.Angry, sad and yes, a little drunk, Bianca decides a fake engagement to brooding classmate Xavier Byrne is the perfect revenge. It's only supposed to last long enough to prove her point. But when her loved ones' reaction to her 'engagement' is everything Bianca was afraid of, she's tempted to let it go on just a bit longer. . .The tension that's always simmered unspoken between them morphs into a very real attraction, but with Xavier's work about to take him halfway around the globe, Bianca can't forget that it's temporary. When the time comes to give up their charade, will they be able to give up their feelings just as easily?More early praise for Degrees of Engagement:'Academic rivals-to-lovers is great, but what about two academics who deeply respect each other's intelligence but are completely clueless when it comes to admitting their long-standing feelings? Hell yeah I wanted Bianca and Xavier to get fake engaged and teach everyone a lesson, but more than that I wanted them to finally see how perfect they really were for each other. Jennifer Hennessy's debut adult romance is a real treat!' ALICIA THOMPSON, USA Today bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers'Fast-paced and delightful, Degrees of Engagement is packed full of fake-dating fun. A charming romance of finding happiness and defining it for yourself' EMILY WIBBERLEY and AUSTIN SIEGEMUND-BROKA, authors of The Breakup TourCouples Retreat: The perfect enemies-to-lovers, escapist romcom for 2024
By Lorraine Brown. 2024
'The ultimate escapist romance with relatable characters and a perfectly executed enemies to lovers romance at the heart of it.…
It's Lorraine's best book yet!' Sara Jafari'Sparky, sexy, and compassionate, Lorraine took me from my armchair to the Cotes d'Azur with expert ease' Zoë Folbigg 'A sun-soaked enemies to lovers' romance with characters you'll be rooting for from the start. Set in Cannes, this is perfect escapism for romance readers' Kathleen Whyman'Fabulous and flirty, a delightful tease of a book making me pine for a retreat to the south of France' Caroline KhouryTwo writers. One pressing deadline. No time for romance... Scarlett and Theo have one bestselling novel to their names: the psychological thriller they wrote together years ago. None of the books they've written separately have sold anywhere near as well...Now at risk of being dropped by their respective publishers, their agent tells them that working together is the only way to save their careers and sends them off on a writers' retreat in the south of France.It wouldn't be the worst way to spend a summer...except that they've accidentally been booked on a couples retreat instead, and spending so much time together stirs up some very inconvenient feelings!With their careers on the line and a pressing deadline, romance is the last thing on their minds...Beach Read meets The Proposal in this gorgeously escapist and wonderfully bookish romcom set in the south of FranceYour favourite authors love Lorraine Brown'Perfect poolside reading' PAIGE TOON'Enchanting, engaging and utterly romantic' MIKE GAYLE'No one does romance and travel like Lorraine Brown' ZOE FOLBIGG'A deliciously warm, gorgeous read that swept me off to Italy and had me falling head over heels for the characters' OLIVIA BEIRNE'Deliciously escapist, you will want to book that Italian holiday straight away' CAROLINE KHOURY'Touching, witty and charming, I loved it' NICOLE KENNEDYStorm Christopher: A Frogmorton Farm short story (Frogmorton Farm Series)
By Jodi Taylor. 2024
*** Pre-order a brand new Frogmorton Farm short story, from the bestselling author of the Chronicles of St Mary's. ***With…
their children off on a school trip Russell and Jenny are contemplating their first peaceful weekend for many years.SPOILER ALERT: That doesn't happen.The telephone lines are down.The lights have gone out.The weather is closing in.And that's not the only thing . . . Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'It was just a glorious ride of wonderfully written words''Wish I could give it 10 stars''I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!''I could put a star for every page and it still wouldn't be enough''Loved every sentence''READ THIS BOOK!!!!!''I read this twice in back to back readings''Magical, witty and life-affirming''This is a beautifully told tale full of love, drama and intrigue''Jodi never fails to impress''Such beautifully developed characters, great writing and a wonderful touch of humour. Absolutely loved this story, its one I wont forget''I lost a whole night's sleep due to not being able to put it down. Believe me, it's worth the loss of sleep!'Everybody should have a Thomas!''Totally amazing read'Chicago: A Novel
By Alaa Al Aswany. 2007
The author of the highly acclaimed The Yacoubian Building returns with a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition…
set in Chicago, with a cast of American and Arab characters achingly human in their desires and needs.Egyptian and American lives collide on a college campus in post-9/11 Chicago, and crises of identity abound in this extraordinary and eagerly anticipated new novel from Alaa Al Aswany. Among the players are a sixties-style anti-establishment professor whose relationship with a younger African-American woman becomes a moving target for intolerance; a veiled PhD candidate whose belief in the principles of her traditional upbringing is shaken by her exposure to American society; an émigré whose fervent desire to embrace his American identity is tested when he is faced with the issue of his daughter's "honor"; an Egyptian informant who spouts religious doctrines while hankering after money and power; and a dissident student poet who comes to America to finance his literary aspirations but whose experience in Chicago turns out to be more than he bargained for.Populated by a cast of intriguing, true-to-life characters, Chicago offers an illuminating portrait of America—a complex, often contradictory land in which triumph and failure, opportunity and oppression, licentiousness and tender love, small dramas and big dreams, coexist. Beautifully rendered, Chicago is a powerfully engrossing novel of culture and individuality from one of the most original voices in contemporary world literature.Degrees of Engagement: The smart and sexy fake engagement rom-com you won't want to put down!
By Jennifer Hennessy. 2024
'Fake engagements, nosy friends, and the unfortunate dilemma of falling for that guy in your PhD program - Degrees of…
Engagement is sexy and heartfelt, about pursuing your passions, and the people who are passionate about you. Be prepared to fall in love with Hennessy's bookish heroine and her brooding modern-day Indiana Jones' ASHLEY POSTON'Full of sweet heat, banter, and a beautiful, long-anticipated connection, DEGREES OF ENGAGEMENT is an ode to the many paths life can take-and what happens when you let the right person go on the journey with you' GRACE REILLY'A swoony, horny heartache that Ali Hazelwood fans will be clamouring for. I loved it!' LIZZIE HUXLEY-JONESA celebration of non-traditional milestones and a book for anyone who's been patiently waiting for their own achievements to be noticed, Degrees of Engagement is the hot new romantic comedy perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis.Bianca Dimitriou has attended countless bridal showers, bachelorette weekends and destination weddings for her friends and family. But when they all fail to show up to celebrate her PhD, she realises it just isn't a milestone they value.Angry, sad and yes, a little drunk, Bianca decides a fake engagement to brooding classmate Xavier Byrne is the perfect revenge. It's only supposed to last long enough to prove her point. But when her loved ones' reaction to her 'engagement' is everything Bianca was afraid of, she's tempted to let it go on just a bit longer. . .The tension that's always simmered unspoken between them morphs into a very real attraction, but with Xavier's work about to take him halfway around the globe, Bianca can't forget that it's temporary. When the time comes to give up their charade, will they be able to give up their feelings just as easily?More early praise for Degrees of Engagement:'Academic rivals-to-lovers is great, but what about two academics who deeply respect each other's intelligence but are completely clueless when it comes to admitting their long-standing feelings? Hell yeah I wanted Bianca and Xavier to get fake engaged and teach everyone a lesson, but more than that I wanted them to finally see how perfect they really were for each other. Jennifer Hennessy's debut adult romance is a real treat!' ALICIA THOMPSON, USA Today bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers'Fast-paced and delightful, Degrees of Engagement is packed full of fake-dating fun. A charming romance of finding happiness and defining it for yourself' EMILY WIBBERLEY and AUSTIN SIEGEMUND-BROKA, authors of The Breakup TourStorm Christopher: A Frogmorton Farm short story (Frogmorton Farm Series)
By Jodi Taylor. 2024
*** Pre-order a brand new Frogmorton Farm short story, from the bestselling author of the Chronicles of St Mary's. ***With…
their children off on a school trip Russell and Jenny are contemplating their first peaceful weekend for many years.SPOILER ALERT: That doesn't happen.The telephone lines are down.The lights have gone out.The weather is closing in.And that's not the only thing . . . Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'It was just a glorious ride of wonderfully written words''Wish I could give it 10 stars''I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!''I could put a star for every page and it still wouldn't be enough''Loved every sentence''READ THIS BOOK!!!!!''I read this twice in back to back readings''Magical, witty and life-affirming''This is a beautifully told tale full of love, drama and intrigue''Jodi never fails to impress''Such beautifully developed characters, great writing and a wonderful touch of humour. Absolutely loved this story, its one I wont forget''I lost a whole night's sleep due to not being able to put it down. Believe me, it's worth the loss of sleep!'Everybody should have a Thomas!''Totally amazing read'Magic Time: Ghostlands (Magic Time Series #3)
By Marc Zicree, Robert Charles Wilson. 2004
In an altered America where machines no longer work and magic holds sway, former lawyer-turned-visionary leader Cal Griffin guides his…
small band on a quest toward the Source of the Change -- following a trail he hopes will reunite him with his abducted sister, Christina, transformed into one of the powerful, enigmatic beings called "flares." Armed with little more than compassion and a determination to heal the world, Cal, the warrior Colleen Brooks, Russian physician Doc Lysenko, and bipolar street wizard Herman "Goldie" Goldman encounter old foes and new friends in a landscape of unimaginable beauties and magnificent horrors -- forced to confront the frightful secrets of an emissary from a dread region and to trust in a brilliant triumvirate of grad students who could get things running again ... at a terrible cost—as the final moves in humankind's ultimate nightmare are played out in the depths of the Ghostlands.Storm Christopher: A Frogmorton Farm short story (Frogmorton Farm Series)
By Jodi Taylor. 2024
A brand new Frogmorton Farm short story from the million-copy bestselling author of the Chronicles of St Mary's. Perfect for…
fans of Sarah Addison Allen, Kristen Ashley and Genevieve Cogman.With their children off on a school trip Russell and Jenny are contemplating their first peaceful weekend for many years.SPOILER ALERT: That doesn't happen.The telephone lines are down.The lights have gone out.The weather is closing in.And that's not the only thing . . . Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'It was just a glorious ride of wonderfully written words''Wish I could give it 10 stars''I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!''I could put a star for every page and it still wouldn't be enough''Loved every sentence''READ THIS BOOK!!!!!''I read this twice in back to back readings''Magical, witty and life-affirming''This is a beautifully told tale full of love, drama and intrigue''Jodi never fails to impress''Such beautifully developed characters, great writing and a wonderful touch of humour. Absolutely loved this story, its one I wont forget''I lost a whole night's sleep due to not being able to put it down. Believe me, it's worth the loss of sleep!'Everybody should have a Thomas!''Totally amazing read'Her dream holiday is his everyday life. His dream holiday is her normal life. What happens when they collide? …
Ally and her dad, Geoff, run the family business, a creative retreat, from their home Hollyhock Cottage in picturesque Kittiwake Cove. They give their guests their dream break, but Ally hankers after glamourous city living, fancy restaurants and art galleries. Ally&’s survival strategy is to escape out of season, take a break abroad and pretend to be the person she always imagined she would be. She meets Logan while she&’s away and he turns out to be exactly the kind of distraction she&’s looking for. With her spirits restored, Ally returns home, picks up the reins again and sets her sights on another successful season, but when Logan unexpectedly arrives on the scene, she soon realises she&’s in for a summer that&’s going to be far from straightforward… A story about bringing a holiday home – and what happens when what goes on on holiday comes back to bite you… Your favourite authors love Heidi Swain's books: 'A summer delight!' SARAH MORGAN 'A delightfully sunny read with added intrigue and secrets' BELLA OSBORNE 'A ray of reading sunshine!' LAURA KEMP 'A lovely, sweet, summery read' MILLY JOHNSON 'An absolutely gorgeous summer tale of love and secrets' RACHAEL LUCASBeyond Temptation: The Templar Knights
By Mary Reed McCall. 2007
From the wonderfully evocative and talented Mary Reed McCall comes the first novel of an exciting new trilogy based on…
the mysterious and fascinating Knights of Templar.Sir Richard de Cantor, a highly-skilled warrior, is hampered by guilt over the ambitious, materialistic way he'd lived before he joined the Templar Brotherhood -- a lifestyle he believes led to the death of his young daughter. Lady Margaret Newcomb is a disgraced daughter of a powerful English earl and has led a quiet life of penance and atonement. Though of different backgrounds, in truth they are both lonely, battered by the world, and in desperate need of each other's love and acceptance. Their fragile relationship is soon threatened when the French Inquisition makes its way to England, and Richard is faced with charges for his position as a Templar Knight, only to have their love further tested when someone from Meg's past reappears with the power to tear the two apart.Cruisin': A Short Story
By Sarah Mlynowski. 2009
From the critically acclaimed author of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) and the Magic in Manhattan series…
comes a fun short story about taking the plunge on the high seas, where not everything is what it seems.Kristin is ready to take the next step. . . . The only problem is she hasn't found the right guy to take it with her. That's why she agreed to go on the ominously named Cruise to Nowhere with her best friend, Liz. There are plenty of cute guys on the ship to choose from if only Kristin can work up the nerve—and stop worrying about the reports in the tabloids that passengers on cruises have been mysteriously disappearing and that someone suspects it has to do with . . . vampires.Epic Reads Impulse is a digital imprint with new releases each month.Distant Heart
By Tracey Bateman. 2008
Toni Rodden has escaped a life of prostitution and vows she'll never let a man control her again. After months…
on the wagon train, she's finally earned her place, albeit grudgingly from some, and has found a surrogate family in Fannie Caldwell and her two siblings. For the first time she can taste freedom and the possibilities of a new life. But as Fannie prepares to marry wagon master Blake Tanner, Toni realizes how alone she is and questions whether she'll ever find acceptance, or true love.Despite Toni's conviction that no man will be able to see beyond her marred past, Sam Two-Feathers, the half-Indian wagon scout and acting preacher for the train, seems to know of a love that forgives sins and values much more than outward appearances. Will Sam have the confidence to declare his love? Will Toni be able to trust in a love that can forgive even the darkest past?Limbo, and Other Places I Have Lived: Short Stories
By Lily Tuck. 2002
In an elegant and penetrating first short-story collection, Limbo, and Other Places I Have Lived, Lily Tuck's characters travel to…
unknown, exotic places and, while there, find themselves deeply immersed in observation -- of the natives, the local customs, the foreign landscape -- in an effort to discern some elemental truth about who they themselves are. Instead, these women meet with disorientation, confusion; they are disappointed by the people closest to them -- lovers, husbands, family members. Finally, they arrive at the sometimes heartbreaking but ultimately optimistic realization that the answers they seek lie not in other people or places but within themselves. Limbo, and Other Places I Have Lived is a brilliant collection from a writer of exceptional poise and insight.The Crown's Fate (Crown's Game #2)
By Evelyn Skye. 2017
The gorgeous and darkly compelling sequel to The Crown’s Game—perfect for fans of Red Queen and Shadow and Bone.A New…
York Times bestseller!Magic is growing, shadows are rising, and the throne is at stake…Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha’s coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected. Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom.For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown’s Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he’s given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he’s willing to go to return to the world.With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves.Hunted
By Meagan Spooner. 2017
New York Times bestselling author Meagan Spooner spins a thoroughly thrilling Beauty and the Beast story for the modern age, expertly…
woven with spellbinding romance, intrigue, and suspense that readers won’t soon be able to forget.Beauty knows the Beast's forest in her bones—and in her blood. After all, her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering its secrets.So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters out of their comfortable home among the aristocracy and back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman.But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. The Beast.Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange creature back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of magical creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin, or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?Dreaming Darkly
By Caitlin Kittredge. 2019
This teen gothic mystery novel, perfect for fans of Madeleine Roux and Lisa Maxwell, takes readers to the cold, creepy…
island of Darkhaven, where a girl with unexplained blackouts grapples with secrets from her dead mother’s past and a legacy of murders that have been committed by her family. Ivy Bloodgood’s mother is dead, and she should probably be sad about it. But she isn’t. Myra Bloodgood was a manipulative personality who never told the truth—about where she came from, who Ivy’s father was, or why they were living their lives on the run.Now that Ivy has been sent to the family estate on Darkhaven, an island off the New England coast, she is forced to reckon with her mother’s past. Ivy can tell right away there are long-held family secrets buried within these walls, but when she wakes up from one of her nightmares covered in someone else’s blood, Ivy fears that whatever demons her mother battled while she was alive have come to roost in her own mind. Scared that she can no longer trust what she sees, Ivy seeks the help of a boy who thinks her episodes are connected to the sordid history of Darkhaven—but what they don’t know might kill them both.