A Family Affair


Book Description

Life’s biggest dilemmas can provide its sweetest rewards Anna McNichol knows how to take charge. Raised by a single mother, she’s worked to ensure her three children have every advantage she didn’t. And while her marriage has its problems, she values commitment and believes in "till death do us part." Now an empty nester, she’s at the peak of her career and ready to seize the opportunity to focus on her future. But life can change in an instant, and when her husband dies suddenly, Anna’s carefully constructed world falls apart. The mysterious young woman at the memorial service confirms her husband had been keeping secrets, and Anna is determined to get to the truth. For once, she doesn’t have the answers. Her kids are struggling with their grief, her mother’s health is in decline and Anna needs closure. Faced with one challenge after another, she finds support from an unexpected source. And as she puts her life back together, Anna realizes the McNichols may not be perfect but they’ll always be family, and family is forever. Don't miss Robyn Carr's next uplifting novel, The Friendship Club, where four women come together at a tumultuous time in their lives, forging an unbreakable bond that will leave them all forever changed—available January 2024! Look no further for even more great summer beach reads from Robyn Carr: Sunrise On Half Moon Bay The View From Alameda Island The Summer That Made Us Never Too Late




A Family Affair


Book Description

A wry, savvy novel of untidy modern relationships, A Family Affair confirms award-winning author Nadine Bismuth's place as a remarkable chronicler of contemporary middle-class mores in the manner of Jonathan Franzen, John Irving, and Lorrie Moore. Award-winning novelist and screenwriter for film and television Nadine Bismuth has returned with an unsparing portrait of twenty-first century life. In A Family Affair, love is the first casualty and deceit -- towards others, towards oneself -- the norm. Kitchen designer Magalie is being cheated upon and so cheats in turn, in the office and with a divorced policeman who has hired her. Her partner, Mathieu, has no idea how to be, and the policeman Guillaume no idea what he wants. So begins a story of messy relationships wrested against the odds from the detritus of failed marriages, the demands of professional lives, and the pull of the internet and its false messages of perfection. With an assiduous eye that is both clinical and sympathetic, Bismuth's elegant and highly readable novel captures the alienating nature of contemporary life and sheds light on this, our strange new world full of unrequited yearning in a sea of seeming plenty.




A Family Affair


Book Description

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels comes a captivating and heartfelt new novel, as a young dancer finds an unexpected partner--and gains the courage to live according to her heart. . . In a city built on dreams, Trisha Holiday makes her living moving like one. But out of her dancer's costume, she's as down-to-earth as they come. That's why she ignores the admiring note--and the accompanying $1000 bill--that arrives backstage after one of her ethereal performances. Yet the sender, a wealthy foreign prince, isn't easily dissuaded. Seven years living and studying in the United States have made Malik long for the freedom to choose his own bride--and the woman he wants is Trisha. After a breathtaking visit to Malik's kingdom culminates in a marriage proposal, Trish attempts to adjust to an opulent new lifestyle complete with servants, sumptuous surroundings, and vast wealth. None of that matters to Trish as much as Malik's love. With Malik's sister Soraya proving a trusted new friend, they plan a lavish wedding surpassing anything she could have imagined. Yet Trish's new life will have challenges too--adjusting to a new and complex culture, to the myriad demands of Malik's royal position, and to the expectations she faces as his wife. In the midst of her own major changes, Trish vows to help her sister, Emma, whose marriage has ended in a bitter breakup. And through it all, Trish will strive to stay true to what matters most--love, true friendship, and the ties that hold family together across the miles and the years.




Pieces of You


Book Description

Heartache. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Redemption. These are the hallmarks of bestselling author, Mary Campisi’s novels, and she does it again with The Betrayed Trilogy. If you love romance and women’s fiction, family dynamics, hope, and second chances, this trilogy has it all. Will he risk his life and his heart for a chance at one true love? - Pieces of You Quinn Burnes is a master of emotional detachment, from his successful career as a personal injury attorney to his strings of meaningless relationships with beautiful women who possess uneasy temperaments; a sure formula to keep his heart safe. Until he meets the mysterious 'Danielle' a woman with too many secrets who's on the run from the abusive, estranged husband she shot and may have killed. Danielle isn't like any woman he's ever met, but can he risk his heart for someone who's doing exactly what his mother did eighteen years ago? Someone who may ultimately leave him, just like his mother? The Betrayed Trilogy: Book 1: Pieces of You Book 2: Secrets of You Book 3: Moments of You BONUS MATERIAL: Included in this ebook is the first chapter of Secrets of You, The Betrayed Trilogy, Book 2.




Self Esteem A Family Affair


Book Description

Serving as a source of parental support, this book provides a range of imaginative and effective suggestions for dealing with each family member in ways that nourish self-esteem for all involved. Strong self-esteem is a critical ingredient for human happiness--and its development begins at home in the nurturing interactions between children and adults. Clarke's unique approach to building self-esteem begins with her belief that this is indeed a "family affair." Rather than offering collection of dictatorial "should," Self-Esteem: A Family Affair instead serves as a source of parental support, providing a broad range of imaginative and effective suggestions for dealing with individual family members in ways that nourish self-esteem for all involved.Throughout her book, Clarke encourages parents to claim their strengths and to trust their judgment as they make decisions about appropriate child care. Recognizing, too, that kids' needs are best met by adults whose own needs have not been neglected, Clarke offers a range of creative and workable options for parents to build the self-esteem of children while also caring for their emotional needs.Jean Illsley Clarke, author of Hazelden's Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children, is a writer and an internationally recognized parent educator who specializes in the areas of parenting, self-esteem, family dynamics, and adult children of alcoholics. She currently directs the Self-Esteem Center, which she founded in 1975, and lives in Plymouth, Minnesota.




Secrets of You


Book Description

The Betrayed Trilogy, Book Two He's not who he says he is...but neither is she... Wealthy, privileged, the product of too much money and too little responsibility, Ash Lancaster routinely pretends he's someone else so he'll be valued for more than his bank accounts. Talented, beautiful, tormented by a past choice she deeply regrets, jewelry designer Arianna Sorensen guards her heart and her privacy from the outside world. When Arianna and Ash meet, the passion is real, though the rest may not be. She thinks he's a motorcycle-riding photojournalist with nothing but a camera and two saddlebags to his name. He thinks she's a blue-blooded, orphaned sophisticate with a fat trust fund. However, lies have a way of catching up and causing their own damage. Fate forces Ash to perform the first selfless act of his life to protect Arianna from being blackmailed about her past. The price? He must walk away and forget about her. Two years later, the threat is gone and Ash returns, determined to win back the woman he's never forgotten and even more determined to get her to admit what she's been hiding. He reveals his true identity and pledges a future built on trust and honesty. But Ash expects the truth from her, too. Can Arianna open up to him when the last thirteen years have been built on a lie? And if she doesn't, will she risk losing him again--this time for good? The Betrayed Trilogy: Book One: Pieces of You Book Two: Secrets of You Book Three: Moments of You




A Family Affair


Book Description

Whether planning a small annual get-together or a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of hundreds, A Family Affair is a step-by-step guide to the planning, promotion, execution and documentation of the best family reunion ever. Filled with hundreds of practical and specific instructions, A Family Affair carefully guides the reader through: The steps to set up a family reunion (establishing a purpose and budget, contacting relatives, planning the place and time). Making people aware of it (by snail mail, e-mail, and phone; dealing with grumpy uncles). Running the reunion (kids, food, events, and pictures). Following up with memories that participants will treasure (pictures, stories, and more). The book is arranged in logical step-by-step sequence. There are checklists and forms to simplify the paperwork, websites and other references for further information on topics of special interest, and tips from others who have held successful reunions.




Moments of You


Book Description

Moments of You is the final book of The Betrayed Trilogy. Part 1 of this book follows Annie Burnes’s journey as a divorced woman trying to find her way in a life she no longer recognizes. Part 2 will finally answer the truth behind the disappearance of Evie Burnes. (Part 2 was previously published as What’s Left of Her.) Moments of You: Part 1 Annie Burnes believes in love, family, and happily-ever-after. For someone whose mother disappeared when she was a child, she’s determined to fulfill this dream. Too bad the man she married didn’t feel the same way. At thirty-two, the husband is gone, there are no children, and Annie’s soulmate is a four-legged rescue dog. Definitely not the life she’d imagined. Gallery owner Ian Debenidos grew up in a household with an authoritative father who did not tolerate weakness. No doubt this is why Ian refuses to let down his guard with anyone. But there’s something about Annie Burnes that makes him think about taking a risk… When Annie agrees to help Ian teach art classes to “kids in need,” they appear to have nothing in common. She says whatever lands in her brain, detests formal exercise, and doesn’t care if her clothes aren’t the latest style. He chooses his words with precision, runs five miles a day, and has a personal tailor. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize that opposites really do attract… Can Annie and Ian open their hearts and risk getting hurt for a chance at forever? Moments of You: Part 2 How could a mother walk away from her family? This is the question many readers asked after finishing Pieces of You, Book One of The Betrayed Trilogy. They wanted to know the real story behind the disappearance of Evie Burnes. This story offers an intimate glimpse into Evie’s life before her disappearance—and after. Included in this e-book is the first chapter of Strangers Like Us, a small town contemporary romance.




A Family Affair: Bonus Scenes


Book Description

I love reading bonus scenes or watching bonus clips on television. If someone told me I could read about or watch Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet get married, I would be beyond excited. Imagination is great, but there are times when I don’t want to imagine or guess—I want to know! I even want to know when storylines change and what might have been... That’s why I’m providing bonus scenes and extras from several of the A Family Affair books. I loved writing these scenes and now I want to share them with you. Enjoy! Nate & Christine’s Wedding - A Family Affair Wouldn't you like to know what Nate Desantro was thinking right before he married Christine? For a man of few words, there was a lot going on in his head. And how about discovering Harry Blacksworth’s thoughts as he prepares to give Christine away? That’s definitely one you won’t want to miss. Lily is still one of my favorites and she’ll warm your heart with her innocent and yet spot-on observations about the wedding, life, and love in Magdalena. Always a Heartbeat Away - A Family Affair: Summer I started A Family Affair: Summer several times as I tried to get a feel for Tess and her backstory. I knew it would involve heartache, just as I knew that deep down, she still loved Cash. But the rest? I wanted to find a way to take her as far from the life she thought she’d have as possible. Initially, that involved a calm, quiet man and a dog named Henry. That storyline changed and I decided not to use it, but it's a great bonus scene to let you see the possibilities, maybe even wonder how the story might have been different. Who is Sasha Rishkov? - A Family Affair: The Secret What if Angie Sorrento’s father turns up in Magdalena to visit his daughter and risks running into the only woman he’s ever loved, Angie’s mother, the one she thought died years ago? He’ll come so close to discovering the truth... The Future Godfather - A Family Affair: The Wish This is a conversation you won’t want to miss! Pop tells Harry that when the time comes, Harry will be the new Godfather of Magdalena, and he’ll make a darn good one. Of course, Harry doesn’t agree... When Harry meets Stephanie - A Family Affair: The Gift Harry Blacksworth is nobody’s fool and while he might once have been the playboy-good-for-nothing younger brother of Charles, he's come into his own as a well-respected and generous member of Magdalena’s community. When Cash and Tess hit a roadblock named Stephanie Richmond, Harry's not going to let anything jeopardize their happiness. Don't miss When Harry Meets Stephanie and read firsthand how he deals with the woman who thinks she can leverage a child to gain security. The Real Stephanie Richmond - A Family Affair: The Gift And because first drafts and ideas change, I'm including a scene I once considered using for the storyline. In this version, Stephanie isn’t as soft and guileless as she appears in the final version of the book, but straightforward and intent on letting Cash know exactly what she wants. While I like the final outcome, this is still an interesting read and portrays Stephanie Richmond’s true personality. Who’s in the Cabin? - A Family Affair: The Cabin Nate and Christine Desantro head to the cabin one last time before they sell it and discover an uninvited guest! Elissa Cerdi has snuck away to the Blacksworths’ cabin for quiet and a chance to consider her future with or without a controlling ex-boyfriend. Her innocent and trusting ways prevent her from seeing that she’s put herself in danger by choosing a secluded cabin. Of course, Nate and Christine aren’t about to risk her safety, even if she was Gloria Blacksworth’s friend and confidante!




Pretenders Like Us


Book Description

Unlock the secrets in Reunion Gap He’s not who he says he is…but neither is she… Ethan Nance lives his life guided by analyses and spreadsheets and avoids anything resembling an emotion. He did that once and suffered the disastrous consequences of opening his heart. Data collection, objectivity, and deductive reasoning are the keys to eliminating surprises and reducing disappointment. And then he meets Vanessa Rodelle, a woman who challenges, confuses, and disturbs him in a way no woman ever has. Vanessa Rodelle once believed in happily-ever-after, but reality taught her the hard lesson of following her heart. It’s much safer to let data and facts guide her. And then she meets Ethan Nance, a man she can’t analyze, understand, or ignore. Ethan and Vanessa might not believe in destiny, but one hot steamy night together changes everything, and no spreadsheets or logic can explain or erase it. Can they learn to trust and open their hearts once again for a chance at real love? It's going to get very interesting and the residents of the small town of Reunion Gap will offer their stories, guidance, and support to help this meant-to-be couple find their happily-ever-after. The only question left is will Ethan and Vanessa take the risk and listen to their hearts? Reunion Gap series: Book One: Strangers Like Us Book Two: Liars Like Us Book Three: Lovers Like Us Book Four: Couples Like Us Book Five: Guilty Like Us Book Six: Pretenders Like Us