The Pub Across the Pond


Book Description

Carlene Rivers is many things. Dutiful, reliable, kind. Lucky? Not so much. At thirty, she’s living a stifling existence in Cleveland, Ohio. Then one day, Carlene buys a raffle ticket. The prize: a pub on the west coast of Ireland. Carlene is stunned when she wins. Everyone else is stunned when she actually goes. As soon as she arrives in Ballybeog, Carlene is smitten not just by the town’s beguiling mix of ancient and modern, but by the welcome she receives. In this small town near Galway Bay, strife is no stranger, strangers are family, and no one is ever too busy for a cup of tea or a pint. And though her new job presents challenges—from a meddling neighbor to the pub’s colorful regulars—there are compensations galore. Like the freedom to sing, joke, and tell stories, and in doing so, find her own voice. And in her flirtation with Ronan McBride, the pub’s charming, reckless former owner, she just may find the freedom to follow where impulse leads and trust her heart—and her luck—for the very first time . . . “Guaranteed to become one of the books on your shelf that you’ll want to read again.” —The Free Lance-Star “A fun, quirky read.” –Publishers Weekly




Across the Pond: An Englishman's View of America


Book Description

An irreverent trip through American culture by a critic who “cracks jokes as easily as one would crack walnut shells” (Washington Post). Americans have long been fascinated with the oddness of the British, but the English, says literary critic Terry Eagleton, find their transatlantic neighbors just as strange. Only an alien race would admiringly refer to a colleague as “aggressive,” use superlatives to describe everything from one’s pet dog to one’s rock collection, or speak frequently of being “empowered.” Why, asks Eagleton, must we broadcast our children’s school grades with bumper stickers announcing “My Child Made the Honor Roll”? Why don’t we appreciate the indispensability of the teapot? And why must we remain so irritatingly optimistic, even when all signs point to failure? On his quirky journey through the language, geography, and national character of the United States, Eagleton proves to be at once an informal and utterly idiosyncratic guide to our peculiar race. He answers the questions his compatriots have always had but (being British) dare not ask, like why Americans willingly rise at the crack of dawn, even on Sundays, or why we publicly chastise cigarette smokers as if we’re all spokespeople for the surgeon general. In this pithy, warmhearted, and very funny book, Eagleton melds a good old-fashioned roast with genuine admiration for his neighbors “across the pond.”




Eadric


Book Description

A Viking invasion, a curse set, a legacy begun. In the 11th century a naive band of farmers are called to arms to fight the imminent fret of the invading Vikings. Under prepared and over powered the ragtag gang of would be warriors quickly succumb and life as they know it is changed forever. A curse, set upon them by a Viking warlock, changes the course of their lives and the lives of their ancestors from that day forward. In the 21st Century James is about to discover that the beast within him is no longer just a metaphor. Eadric was an ordinary man... until the Vikings arrived. James was an ordinary man... until Eadric arrived.




Exercise Is Murder


Book Description

Exercise Is Murder introduces you to blind former homicide detective, Steve Smiley and his new partner in this classic private detective mystery series readers describe as "a multi-layered whodunit" and "briskly paced with lots of clues and suspects." Accidental drowning… or murder? It’s up to the blind detective to find out. Found at the bottom of his exercise pool, police believe the death of Steve Smiley’s friend is an accident. Smiley doesn’t buy it. There are a lot of things a blind man can do, but solve a murder alone isn’t one of them. He needs a partner… one who knows their way around a crime scene. In walks Heather McBlythe. She can help him solve the crime, but can she keep him out of danger? Steve doesn’t have a choice. Without her help someone will get away with murder. Armed with years of experience as a homicide detective and his new partner, Smiley sets out to find a killer. He knows he’s on the right trail when a bullet whizzes past his ear. Will Steve resurrect his life as a master crime solver, or will his sleuthing get them both killed? The suspense and action in the Smiley and McBlythe Mysteries will keep you turning the pages to find out whodunit! No foul language, sex scenes or graphic violence—just a great mystery waiting to be solved.




Cross Town Murders


Book Description

In a small town, no one expects anyone to get murderedlet alone three vibrant, beautiful women in the prime of their lives. Meet Mac OBrien, seasoned veteran on the local police force. He knows what solves mysteries: procedure and systematic investigation. The calling card of the latest particularly gruesome murderer has him questioning everything he thought he ever knew about police workand second-guessing his every instinct. Fighting him every step of the way is Greta Murphy, sexy local TV reporter. With the eye of an eagle, the nose of a bloodhound, and a dangerously keen sixth sense, shell do whatever it takes to capture The One Big Story that will propel her to stardom. When her relentless impulsivity threatens to blow the investigation wide open, Mac forces his hand, which creates further complications. As Mac and Greta collide, the tension blurs the boundary between personal and professional roles. Will the spotlight be too bright for Greta as she reports the news or will she become the news? Join them as they scour the countryside looking for the killer.




She'll Take It


Book Description

Aspiring actress. Temp worker. Shoplifter. For Melanie Zeitgar, stealing is a lot like love: she knows the right thing when she sees it. Unfortunately, she sees it everywhere. She doesn’t mean to take things. Just like she doesn’t mean to fib about her career. Or continue eating chocolate. Or wait for a call from Ray, the Beautiful Musician Who Must Have Been in a Horrible Accident that Broke His Dialing Fingers. Melanie’s number one rule—in life, love, and theft—is this: Don’t Get Caught. But sometimes, even the best kleptomaniac has an off day. Now, with every part of her life veering out of control, Melanie’s met a guy whose heart is hers for the taking—if she’s brave enough to pay the price . . . “Funny, outrageous, and touching.” —Holly Chamberlin, author of The Summer Nanny




Home with My Sisters


Book Description

Faith, Hope, and Joy. As children, the Garland sisters seemed to fit together as seamlessly as their names. Together, they survived their free-spirited parents, who moved from place to place and whim to whim, until their father took off for good. But as the girls grew up, they became virtual strangers. This Christmas, they intend to spend the holidays in their usual way: far apart. But their ailing grandmother wants her girls around her once more. Hope, always the peacemaker, convinces her reluctant sisters to travel to Leavenworth, Washington. Hope is immediately charmed by the setting, modeled on a Bavarian village, and by her grandmother’s handsome, mysterious neighbor. Still, there’s scant trace of celebration within the family. Joy’s main motivation for visiting is to secure start-up funds for a coffee shop. Faith, oblivious to her children’s unhappiness, is preparing to announce that her marriage is over and she has a new love. With a festive schedule of candy-cane martinis, hot tubs, and snowball fights, Hope tries to expose and heal old resentments, but moving forward as a family will take more than a little seasonal goodwill . . .




No Place Like Home


Book Description

There’s nothing more festive than a winter romance, and in these heart-warming stories, love is a gift that can take you by surprise... THE 24 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Linda Lael Miller A matchbox advent calendar first brought Frank Raynor and Addie Hutton together. But that was years ago. There's no way the miracles of Christmas—and the magic of true love—could possibly be hidden under one of its tiny flaps. Or could they? CHRISTMAS ANGEL by Kat Martin When Angel Summers' first love, Josh Coltrane, joined the Army, she vowed to hate him forever. But now he's back in Savannah for the holidays—wishing for a miracle that could heal both their hearts. THE CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL by Mary Carter Single mom Georgia Bradley can’t afford to fight the developers who want to tear down her beloved Rhode Island auction house—especially Adam Cavalier. But when she receives a mysterious gift, Adam becomes intrigued with its origin—and with Georgia... A ROSE IN WINTER by Laura Florand Allegra Caldrone knew the rule never to talk to strangers. But on a cold winter night in Provence, she breaks that rule—and more—with an irresistible man. Raoul Rosier seems thrillingly dangerous, yet why does Allegra feel so safe with him—even when she believes he’s a thief?




Sunnyside Blues


Book Description

In this funny, surprising, and heartfelt novel, Mary Carter explores the unlikely connection between a rootless young woman and a troubled boy--and the life-changing adventure that ensues. . . Twenty-five-year-old Andes Lane has spent nine years moving restlessly from place to place as she searches for somewhere that feels right. In the little blue houseboat bobbing on a Seattle lake, she thinks she's found it. But Andes has barely had a chance to settle in before her new life is upended by her landlord, Jay, and his son, Chase. Smart, guarded, and precocious, Chase touches a chord with Andes even as he plays on her last nerve. And though she agrees to accompany the boy on a burning quest to Sunnyside, Queens, Andes is sure it will prove fruitless--in fact, she has promised Jay it will be. But in this new, strange, unexpectedly welcoming city, both Andes and Chase will unravel their deepest secrets and darkest fears--and in the face of longed for truths, discover a freedom that feels very much like home. . . Praise for Mary Carter "The unique spin Carter takes on the familiar theme of self-discovery gives this a welcome, fresh feel." –Publishers Weekly on My Sister's Voice "Guaranteed to become one of the books on your shelf that you'll want to read again." --The Free Lance-Star on The Pub Across the Pond




Meet Me in Barcelona


Book Description

A surprise trip to Barcelona with her boyfriend, Jake, seems like the perfect antidote to Grace Sawyer's current woes. The city is dazzling and unpredictable, but the biggest surprise for Grace is discovering who arranged and paid for the vacation. Carrie Ann wasn't just Grace's foster sister. Clever, pretty, and mercurial, she was her best friend--until everything went terribly wrong. Now, as she flees an abusive marriage, Carrie Ann has turned to the one person she hopes will come through for her. Despite her initial misgivings, Grace wants to help. But then Carrie Ann and Jake both go missing. Stunned and confused, Grace begins to realize how much of herself she's kept from Jake--and how much of Carrie Ann she never understood. Soon Grace is baited into following a trail of scant clues across Spain, determined to find the truth, even if she must revisit her troubled past to do it. . . Mary Carter's intriguing novel delves into the complexities of childhood bonds, the corrosive weight of guilt and blame, and all the ways we try--and often fail--to truly know the ones we love. Praise for Mary Carter "A touching novel." --Publishers Weekly on The Things I Do For You "This is guaranteed to become one of the books on your shelf that you'll want to read again." --The Free Lance-Star on The Pub Across the Pond




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