The Girl with the Silver Clasp


Book Description

'Absolutely loved it' Heidi Swain on The Ferryman's Daughter Will they find the courage to follow their dreams? St. Ives, 1916. Jess Morgan always hoped to become a celebrated silversmith, but when the men return from war she's forced to return to her job as a seamstress. All she can cling to is the memory of that delicate, unique silver clasp she created for a society bride. Rachel Bellamy served as an ambulance driver on the front line during the Great War but now it's up to her to save the family home and picturesque harbour from her wealthy brother-in-law, before it's too late. Giselle Harding fought her way up from poverty to become a Hollywood movie star. Yet even the most beautiful jewels she owns will never fill replace the man she lost. As the lives of the three women collide, will they be able to overcome their differences and fight together for the dreams they once held so close?




The Other Half of Happy


Book Description

Quijana is a girl in pieces. One-half Guatemalan, one-half American: When Quijana's Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn't know more about her family's heritage. One-half crush, one-half buddy: When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she's found true friends. But she can't help the growing feelings she has for Jayden. One-half kid, one-half grown-up: Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what's going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother. In the course of this immersive and beautifully written novel, Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole. This lyrical debut from Rebecca Balcárcel is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.




Helping Hand


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The Girl At Cobhurst


Book Description

Frank R. Stockton's novel The Girl at Cobhurst deals around the life of Maria Marillo, a young woman who unexpectedly inherits the Cobhurst estate. Mr. Sidney, Maria's uncle, surprises everyone by leaving the estate to her rather than his own son, Rudolph Marillo. Maria and her friend Anne arrive at Cobhurst to take possession of her inheritance. Rudolph first resents Maria, but later develops romantic feelings for her. As Maria takes over Cobhurst and improves the estate, Rudolph's feelings for her grow, generating conflict between him and Anne. Maria, on the other hand, is determined to see Cobhurst transformed into a profitable and modern estate. Despite Rudolph's efforts to pursue her, Maria maintains her independence. Along the novel, Maria overcomes a number of problems and barriers, but she eventually succeeds in her efforts, transforming Cobhurst into a prosperous property. Maria's relationship with Rudolph grows over time, and he gradually comes to accept her autonomy and recognise her accomplishments.




The Fair Isle Princess


Book Description

When Silvana's brother, King Jonaton of the Fair Isle, summons her home to Foxwell Castle after a family tragedy, she sees an opportunity to flee her unhappy and abusive life with her husband, the Duke of Arundale. But then, on the journey to her brother's land, Silvana is captured by Prime Mykael of Dornia - one of the feared vampire brothers - and taken to his court at Teragon House. At first a reluctant guest, Silvana soon finds herself becoming drawn to the enigmatic Mykael, and he awakens a passion within her like she has never felt before. But can she truly save the man inside the monster, or is he lost forever? Each book in the The Land of the Blood of Allaron Legend series is stand-alone, but for the greatest enjoyment, the following reading order is recommended: The Daughter of Teragon The Fair Isle Princess The Guardsman's Lover The Duchess of Farrow The Warrior Queen The Lady of Saron Please note: this ebook contains content of a sexual nature, making it unsuitable for younger readers.




The Silver Key


Book Description

Everything Charlie of Windsong wants has just been offered to her. A chance to trade a life of monotony for one of adventure. A chance to be part of the world outside her home and to make her own decisions. A chance to find out if she could be as brave as she hoped. Charlie never imagined that she would run away from home, but when a mysterious summons from a woman who calls herself Grandmother offers her an opportunity to leave her stifling life behind and go on an unusual adventure, she is too curious to say no. Charlie learns that not only has she been chosen to revive a league of exceptional women called the Order of the Dagger, but that her success in doing so might be instrumental in stopping a war. All of this newfound adventure and freedom comes at a price. Charlie has to leave her family and the comforts of home behind and learn to take care of herself, she encounters danger regularly from both mundane and magical sources, and she finds herself saddled with an unwanted companion who is a little too curious about who she is and where she's from. And through it all, she's on a seemingly impossible quest to find a dagger that could be hidden anywhere. Charlie's decision to leave her old life behind and travel through a country adversarial to her own takes her on a journey that not only exposes her to new experiences and challenges, but also tests the limits of her courage, ingenuity, and determination. The people she meets, the trials she overcomes, and the magic she encounters on her trip cause her to reconsider her own view of herself and her place in a world much bigger and more complicated than she had ever imagined.







Halderwold


Book Description

Medieval intrigue and an endearing family capture the heart of Paige Nelson, a teacher and clown, who, after a tumble in her hometown gym, finds herself in a strange world. Going by her clown name, "Poppy", she finds herself a highly honored guest because the people of Halderwold believe her to be a visitor from Laria, a land on the other side of a "flatland swamp" that has been considered impassable for many years. After learning of the punishments for "jocularity" and creating "likenesses", she yearns to find a way to return the people to their former times of lampooning newspapers, beautiful pictures, and open gaiety, all of which have been banned for generations. Possessing none of the intuitive talents of the Larians, but afraid to admit she is from another world, Poppy enters training as a "wise one". Forced to chose between marrying Lorimar(whom she respects but does not love) to be safe from Pule, the king's evil cousin (whom she loathes), kidnapped and nearly murdered, she at last finds others willing to risk all to join in a scheme to change the oppressive laws of the realm.




Harper's Magazine


Book Description




Secret Nation


Book Description

It has long been assumed that no Armenian presence remained in eastern Turkey after the 1915 massacres. As a result of what has come to be called the Armenian Genocide, those who survived in Anatolia were assimilated as Muslims, with most losing all traces of their Christian identity. In fact, some did survive and together with their children managed during the last century to conceal their origins. Many of these survivors were orphans, adopted by Turks, only discovering their `true' identity late into their adult lives. Outwardly, they are Turks or Kurds and while some are practising Muslims, others continue to uphold Christian and Armenian traditions behind closed doors. In recent years, a growing number of `secret Armenians' have begun to emerge from the shadows. Spurred by the bold voices of journalists like Hrant Dink, the Armenian newspaper editor murdered in Istanbul in 2007, the pull towards freedom of speech and soul-searching are taking hold across the region. Avedis Hadjian has travelled to the towns and villages once densely populated by Armenians, recording stories of survival and discovery from those who remain in a region that is deemed unsafe for the people who once lived there. This book takes the reader to the heart of these hidden communities for the first time, unearthing their unique heritage and identity. Revealing the lives of a peoples that have been trapped in a history of denial for more than a century, Secret Nation is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide in the very places where the events occurred.