Passion Before Me, My Fate Behind


Book Description

Umar Ibn al-Fāriḍ (1181–1235), author of two classic works, the Wine Ode and the Poem of the Sufi Way, is considered the greatest Sufi poet to write in Arabic. In this study, these and other poems by Ibn al-Fāriḍ are considered within the context of Islamic mysticism, Arabic literature, and Sufi poetry. Th. Emil Homerin uncovers the literary and religious intent of these poems and their aesthetic and mystical content, showing them to be a type of meditative poetry. Indeed, Ibn al-Fāriḍ often alludes to the Sufi practice of "recollection," or meditation on God, to evoke a view of existence in which the seeker may be transformed by an epiphany of love revealing an intimate relationship to the divine beloved. Homerin provides elegant translations and close readings of Ibn al-Fāriḍ's poetry, highlighting the beauty of his verse, its moods, meanings, and significance within Islamic mysticism and Arabic poetry, where Ibn al-Fāriḍ is still known as the "Sultan of the Lovers."




Seeing Sideways


Book Description

Doony, Ryder, Wyatt, Bodhi. The names of Kristin Hersh’s sons are the only ones included in her new memoir, Seeing Sideways. As the book unfolds and her sons’ voices rise from its pages, it becomes clear why: these names tell the story of her life. This story begins in 1990, when Hersh is the leader of the indie rock group Throwing Muses, touring steadily, and the mother of a young son, Doony. The chapters that follow reveal a woman and mother whose life and career grow and change with each of her sons: the story of a custody battle for Doony is told alongside that of Hersh’s struggles with her record company and the resulting PTSD; the tale of breaking free from her record label stands in counterpoint to her recounting of her pregnancy with Ryder; a period of writer’s block coincides with the development of Wyatt as an artist and the family’s loss of their home; and finally, soon after Bodhi’s arrival, Hersh and her boys face crises from which only strange angels can save them. Punctuated with her own song lyrics, Seeing Sideways is a memoir about a life strange enough to be fiction, but so raw and moving that it can only be real.




Passion and Pretense


Book Description

After four disastrous engagements, Penelope Rastmoor wants nothing but to travel to Egypt. To escape her brother's plan to marry her off, she's determined to find herself such an improper fiance that he would do anything rather than let her wed. Enter the notoriously unscrupulous Lord Harris Chesterton...




A Player’s Tale


Book Description

This rare, uncensored glimpse into the intimate life of a celebrity—albeit anonymously—feels raw and genuine, infused with a vulnerability that appeals to the voyeur in all of us. - Blue Ink Review The author’s writing is regal, intelligent, social media contemporary, and provocative without becoming raunchy...Readers who enjoy erotic accounts written from a unique, cleverly intuitive perspective and spiced with a pungent, feverish hedonism will be pleased to discover the heady material blossoming in the pages of this candid memoir. A provocative and entrancing autobiography that’s both titillating and authentic. - Kirkus Review This is a dangerous book. It is in the tradition of forbidden works, like Casanova’s and Henry Miller’s. More than a simple autobiography, this personal narrative is a revolutionary glimpse into the insatiable desires and endless depths of youthful feelings, exposing things best-kept secret. A Player’s Tale recounts the adventures and misadventures of a young man who was born into the purple glow of “Hollywood Royalty.” He tells of his first childhood glimpses of the nude female form, his loss of virginity with a prostitute, and his most excessive exploits in a culture of selfie-fueled libido, before finally discovering the peace of love. He speaks frankly about sex in the modern age—from insecurity at sleepovers to the problems of fidelity, from sex tapes to chakra openings, from ayahuasca trips to bedding sisters, from threesomes to attempted suicide, from ego death to alchemical transformation. It is a coming-of-age narrative not just for the anonymous author but for the world, as it deals with sexuality and spiritualty at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Reflective and humorous, this memoir of a man’s eternal quest for love led him to countless women, exotic lands, and the ultimate awakening to his soul.




Passion, Poison, and Pretense


Book Description

I was gripped by this account of the 1857 Gardner murder - a detailed, absorbing, and compelling page-turner. John Gallagher has given historical fiction fans another richly satisfying, complicated, and well-researched story. Bravo! Annie Hartnett, author of Rabbit CakePassion, Poison, and Pretense: The Murder of Hingham's Postmaster is the type of local history story I have been craving for some time -a concise, engaging, true story of one of the earliest and most well documented murder cases in Massachusetts, right here in our backyard. Filled with wonderful detail, John's book touches not only on this fascinating piece of Hingham history but also how it fits into the broader history of the development of the judicial system in the fledgling United States. I couldn't put it down! Michael Achille, Collections Manager, Hingham Historical Society




Doms Need Love Too!


Book Description

In the humorous novel DOMs Need Love Too!, a Yale psychology professor encounters a small group of healthy, vigorous, flag-loving seniors at a racquetball and health club and secretly decides to create a case study out of the merry makers, better known as the Day Old Muffins. Middle-aged Eve is obligated to submit an academic paper titled Men Without Partners to the University at the conclusion of the school year. When she witnesses the senior comrades hitting on a young, pretty maiden with an array of grandiose promises, she is both dismayed and intrigued by their sophomoric behavior. As Eve infiltrates the voyeuristic group to study their chauvinistic attitudes, she wonders if there is such a thing as male menopause-a condition that causes men to overcompensate a diminished libido. Eve is surprised to find the men boast an intellectual depth beyond her expectations and as two Day Old Muffins vie for her attention, jealously, extortion, and love encircle the group, complicating matters even further. As Eve seeks to uncover the nature of the force which brings the six men together so faithfully, her analytical harness is unleashed, revealing her true womanhood.




Small Town Perfect Boxed Set 2


Book Description

Small town romantic women’s fiction with love, hope, second chances, and a happy ending! Note from Mary: I love secondary characters: writing them, reading about them, even watching them on the big screen. Secondary characters support the “stars”; make them more vibrant and compelling. But when the story ends, I’m often left wondering what they’d do if theywere in the “spotlight”. That’s why I’ve created special boxed sets that were part of That Second Chance series and the Truth in Lies series. These boxed sets let the reader follow the before and afterof select characters as they first appear in That Second Chance series and later in the fictional town of my bestselling Truth in Lies series. Boxed Set Two contains The Way They Wereand A Family Affair: The Secret. I invite you to follow their journey! The Way They Were They promised to love one another forever, but tragedy tore them apart. Now, destiny may just bring them back together. At eighteen, Rourke Flannigan and Kate Redmond thought they’d spend the rest of their lives together—until a family tragedy tore them apart. Fourteen years have passed, and they’ve both carved out separate lives hundreds of miles apart—hers as a wife and mother, his as a successful, driven businessman. But once a year, Kate pulls out a red velvet journal and writes a letter, which she’ll never send, to the man who still owns her heart. Once a year, on the anniversary of the first and only night they made love, Rourke permits himself to read the annual investigative report detailing an ordinary day in Kate’s life. When a subcontractor at one of Rourke’s holding companies is killed, Rourke decides to pay the widow a visit and offer condolences, never dreaming the widow will be Kate. As they embark on a cautious journey of rediscovery, one far greater than they could have imagined, secrets and lies threaten to destroy their newfound closeness—forever. A Family Affair: The Secret They weren’t looking for happily-ever-after, but the town of Magdalena had other plans... Roman Ventori isn’t looking for a wife. He’s had one of those and it ended badly. He’s come back to Magdalena out of duty, not love for the town that drove him away with rumors and judgments. Angie Sorrento is in Magdalena to do a job, not find a husband. She almost had one of those, until he dumped her days before the wedding. Roman’s father has health problems and his last wish is to see his son settled with a wife, a child, a second chance at a life that doesn’t include city life and flashy women. There’s only one person in town who can make the impossible happen. Angelo “Pop” Benito, the Godfather of Magdalena, is the wiliest matchmaker in the Catskills and if he sets his mind to it, an old man might see his wish come true. Small Town Perfect Series: Boxed Set 1 includes Pulling Home and A Family Affair: The Promise Boxed Set 2includes The Way They WereandA Family Affair: The Secret Boxed Set 3includes Simple Richesand A Family Affair: Winter Boxed Set 4includes Paradise Foundand A Family Affair: The Wish Boxed Set 5 includes Not Your Everyday Housewifeand A Family Affair: The Gift Boxed Set 6 includes The Butterfly Gardenand A Family Affair: The Return




Not Passion's Slave


Book Description

The new emphasis on evolutionary biology and neurology has (mistakenly) reinforced the popular prejudice that emotions "happen" to us and are entirely beyond our control."--Jacket.




Passion's Promise


Book Description

Smart, beautiful, and very rich, Kezia Saint Martin leads two lives: one as a glamorous socialite jetting between the poshest places in Europe and America; the other, under a false name, as a dedicated journalist committed to justice and her profession. But the two worlds are pulling her apart, leaving her conflicted about her identity and the lies she tells to every man she meets. Then she meets Lucas Johns, a bold, dynamic crusader for social change -- and an ex-con. Their attraction is immediate, but their love may be just one step from tragedy at any time.




God's Man


Book Description