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Blue Summer
by Jim NicholsAt forty, Cal Shaw has seen better days, that's for sure, but it wasn't always like this. He grew up with his brother, Alvin, and his sister Julia, in the small Maine town of Baxter, confident in his own capabilities, especially regarding music. He took his happy life for granted, as lucky children often do. But everything changed when he was ten and his dad died in a freak accident. Soon, trouble, mostly in the form of a violent stepfather, found a home—his home. As an escape, the Shaw kids turned to music lessons with family friend Uncle Gus, but it turns out no one can escape the violence and grief that rains down on the Shaws. Blue Summer is the story of the Shaw family's undoing, and Cal’s struggle to grow up in a world determined to break him. Even his music threatens to take him down with booze-filled nights and one-night stands. As Cal tries to make sense of his existence, living as far away from his family as he can, a snippet of melody comes to him—timeless and haunting. But before he can finish it, his past asserts itself with a phone call that Uncle Gus is dying and it's time to come home and face an altogether different kind of music. In this story, author Jim Nichols writes a riveting coming-of-age novel that examines the melancholy fate of a boy torn apart by loss and domestic abuse, and the justice he eventually delivers, all the while writing a beautiful melody to counter it all, a song he calls ‘Blue Summer.’
Blue Sunflower Startle
by Yasmin LadhaIn the early 1960s, a young girl and her brother move to their grandparents’ flourmill in Dodoma in newly-independent Tanzania. Her grandfather bellows his love for East Africa, where he and other Indian merchants have thrived. But the ground is shifting. President Nyerere is calling for the widespread nationalization of property. The hum of the mill has quieted. The young girl prays at the jamatkhana and spends evenings at the cinema watching cowboy films—grief and grievances, if only momentarily, disappear. Years later, the girl and her family immigrate to Calgary, Alberta and she begins a love affair with the prairies. Wary that her grandfather’s passion for his country consumed him, she is unwilling to settle for geographical monogamy. She travels to Chonju, South Korea to work as a language teacher, and Delhi, India for trysts with her Kashmiri lover. Frequently, she is startled by the appearance of things that remind her of the prairies, but show up in other countries. She aches for a home that beckons her return: the Canadian West, the hero that pulls a U-turn for its beloved. Yasmin Ladha offers readers an exquisite exploration of the ways in which one can love a country. Written in unusual, intoxicating, and poetic prose, Blue Sunflower Startle is a modern day Romance for frequent travellers and nomadic spirits.
Blue Ticket: A Novel
by Sophie Mackintosh"A beautiful read."--Heather O'Neill, author of The Lonely Hearts HotelFrom the author of the Man Booker Prize longlisted novel The Water Cure comes another mesmerizing, refracted vision of our society: In a world where women can't have it all, don't underestimate the relief of a decision being taken away from you.Calla knows how the lottery works. Everyone does. On the day of your first bleed, you report to the station to learn what kind of woman you will be. A white ticket grants you marriage and children. A blue ticket grants you a career and freedom. You are relieved of the terrible burden of choice. And once you've taken your ticket, there is no going back. But what if the life you're given is the wrong one?When Calla, a blue ticket woman, begins to question her fate, she must go on the run. But her survival will be dependent on the very qualities the lottery has taught her to question in herself and on the other women the system has pitted against her. Pregnant and desperate, Calla must contend with whether or not the lottery knows her better than she knows herself and what that might mean for her child.An urgent inquiry into free will, social expectation, and the fraught space of motherhood, Blue Ticket is electrifying in its raw evocation and desire and riveting in its undeniable familiarity.
Blue Ticket: A Novel
by Sophie Mackintosh"The cool intensity and strange beauty of Blue Ticket is a wonder - be sure to read everything Sophie Mackintosh writes."--DEBORAH LEVY, author of HOT MILK and THE MAN WHO SAW EVERYTHINGFrom the author of the Man Booker Prize longlisted novel The Water Cure ("ingenious and incendiary"--The New Yorker) comes another mesmerizing, refracted vision of our society: What if the life you're given is the wrong one?Calla knows how the lottery works. Everyone does. On the day of your first bleed, you report to the station to learn what kind of woman you will be. A white ticket grants you marriage and children. A blue ticket grants you a career and freedom. You are relieved of the terrible burden of choice. And once you've taken your ticket, there is no going back. But what if the life you're given is the wrong one? When Calla, a blue ticket woman, begins to question her fate, she must go on the run. But her survival will be dependent on the very qualities the lottery has taught her to question in herself and on the other women the system has pitted against her. Pregnant and desperate, Calla must contend with whether or not the lottery knows her better than she knows herself and what that might mean for her child.An urgent inquiry into free will, social expectation, and the fraught space of motherhood, Blue Ticket is electrifying in its raw evocation of desire and riveting in its undeniable familiarity.
Blue Tights
by Rita Williams-GarciaGrowing up in a city neighborhood, fifteen-year-old Joyce, unsure of herself and not quite comfortable with her maturing body, tries to find a place to belong and a way to express herself through dance.
Blue Twilight
by Maggie ShayneThe approaching darkness beckons. . . They are drawn to unearthly danger by his deception and cunning, disappearing into the darkness forever. . . The idyllic town of Endover, New Hampshire, looks innocent. But below its surface a thirst and a desire both powerful and ancient boil fiercely. When two girls go missing, only one person can delve deep enough to find them -- Maxine Stuart, a private investigator who has finally started to believe. "Mad Maxie" understands why she was asked to help -- no living mortal knows as much about the undead as she. But the dark force controlling Endover can see all, and will use Maxine's knowledge against her to strengthen his hold on the town. Not even the influence of Lou Malone, the man Maxie most desires, can convince her to abandon the crusade against a madman's yearning for power. . . and resurrected love.
Blue Twilight
by Maggie ShayneEndover, New Hampshire, looks innocent. But below its surface an ancient and powerful thirst boils fiercely. When two girls go missing, only one person can find them: private investigator Maxine Stuart.No other living mortal knows as much about the undead as "Mad Maxie." But the dark force controlling Endover will use that knowledge to strengthen his hold on the town-and on her. Not even Lou Malone, the man Maxie most desires, can convince her to abandon her crusade against a madman's yearning for power...and resurrected love.
Blue Umbrella Sky
by Rick R. ReedMilt Grabaur has left his life, home, and teaching career in Ohio to start anew. The Summer Winds trailer park in Palm Springs, butted up against the San Jacinto mountain range, seems the perfect place to forget the pain of nursing his beloved husband through Alzheimer's and seeing him off on his final passage. Billy Blue is a sexy California surfer type who once dreamed of being a singer but now works at Trader Joe’s and lives in his own trailer at Summer Winds. He’s focused on recovery from the alcoholism that put his dreams on hold. When his new neighbor moves in, Billy falls for the gray-eyed man. His sadness and loneliness awaken something Billy’s never felt before—real love. When a summer storm and flash flood jeopardize Milt's home, Billy comes to the rescue, hoping the two men might get better acquainted… and maybe begin a new romance. But Milt's devotion to his late husband is strong, and he worries that acting on his attraction will be a betrayal. Can they lay down their baggage and find out how redemptive love can be?
Blue Umbrella Sky (Italiano)
by Rick R. ReedMilt Grabaur ha lasciato la sua vita, la sua casa e la sua carriera di insegnante in Ohio per ricominciare da capo. Il parcheggio per roulotte Summer Winds di Palm Springs, vicino alla catena montuosa di San Jacinto, sembra il posto ideale per dimenticare gli anni trascorsi ad assistere l’adorato marito malato di Alzheimer fino agli ultimi istanti di vita. Billy Blue ha l’aspetto del tipico surfista californiano; un tempo sognava di fare il cantante ma adesso lavora in un supermercato e vive in una roulotte al Summer Winds. La sua priorità è superare la dipendenza dall’alcol, che lo ha costretto a rinunciare ai suoi sogni. Billy è subito attratto dal suo nuovo vicino, quell’uomo dagli occhi grigi la cui tristezza e solitudine risvegliano in lui un sentimento che non ha mai provato prima: il vero amore. Quando un temporale estivo provoca un’inondazione che danneggia la casa di Milt, Billy va in suo soccorso, con la speranza di conoscerlo meglio… e forse iniziare una relazione romantica. Tuttavia, Milt è ancora devoto al suo defunto marito e teme che cedere all’attrazione per qualcun altro sia un tradimento. Riusciranno i due uomini a liberarsi del peso del loro passato e a scoprire che proprio l’amore li può salvare?
Blue Valentine Blues (A Valentine Rainbow)
by Ken BachtoldWhen Josh put a blue valentine in the class box for Bobby Prentice in fifth grade, he just wanted to show how much he appreciated his best friend. Years later, both the ridicule he suffered and his unrequited feelings for Bobby have followed him to the university where they both teach. Bobby would like to say many things to his friend, but he doesn't know if he can find the courage in himself that he admires in Josh.
Blue Velvet
by Kim DavisWhen Patrick Holt’s ex-boyfriend Clay Teal asks him to serve as the best man in his wedding to the man he left Patrick for, Patrick initially balks at the request. Even though he and Clay have been on fairly good terms since their breakup, Patrick is still bitter about the way Clay dumped him.But after Patrick’s new boyfriend convinces him that being a part of Clay’s wedding would help to resolve the years of “issues” between the two men, Patrick reluctantly agrees.In the weeks leading up to the big day, Patrick discovers he’s having a very hard time dealing with Clay’s upcoming nuptials. He also finds himself thinking more about his failed relationship with Clay and the events that led to their breakup. And, at the center of it all, was one lovely blue velvet jacket.Will the same problems follow him into his new relationship?
Blue Velvet: A Classic Love Story (Beau Lantry #2)
by Iris JohansenFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen comes a classic novel about a young woman who lives life on her own terms and the bold adventurer who risks everything to rescue her friend--and persuade her to open up her heart. Kate Gilbert is a woman without a past--or even a passport--to tie her down. Raised by smugglers, she lives on her wits, relishing the sense of freedom that only the life of the open sea can provide. All she knows of love she has learned from classic literature.Nothing she read about in Shakespeare, however, could prepare her for Beau Lantry. The brash, handsome playboy helps her out of a tough scrape and puts his own life on the line to save her friend. Now Kate is in Beau's debt, and as reluctant as she is to compromise her hard-won independence, she's intrigued by the prospect of a new kind of life in the arms of this wealthy stranger. But can Beau keep her out of harm's way long enough to convince her that happiness is worth leaving behind a world of ever-present danger?From the Paperback edition.
Blue Voyage
by Diana RennAn intricately crafted mystery set in the contemporary Middle East. Zan is a politician's daughter and an adrenaline junkie. Whether she's rock climbing or shoplifting, she loves to live on the edge. But she gets more of a rush than she bargained for on a forced mother-daughter bonding trip to Turkey, where she finds herself in the crosshairs of an antiquities smuggling ring. These criminals believe that Zan can lead them to an ancient treasure that's both priceless and cursed. Until she does so, she and her family are in grave danger. Zan's quest to save the treasure--and the lives of people she cares about--leads her from the sparkling Mediterranean, to the bustle of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, to the eerie and crumbling caves of Cappadocia. But it seems that nowhere is safe, and there's only so high she can climb before everything comes tumbling down.
Blue Voyage: A Novel
by Conrad AikenIn this autobiographical debut novel from one of America's most acclaimed poets, a writer's sentimental journey across the Atlantic becomes a crucible of heartbreak and mental anguish William Demarest settles into his room, checks his pockets for his seasickness pills, and wanders onto the deck of the ship that will be his home for the next few days. The lights of New York City are still faintly visible, but Demarest's mind is on London, where he hopes to be reunited with the woman he adores. He has spent countless nights pining for her and is finally ready to declare his love. In a state of feverish anticipation, Demarest steals onto the first-class section of the ship. There, to his surprise, he discovers the woman he is traveling thousands of miles to see, only for her to dismiss him with devastating coldness. For the rest of the voyage, Demarest must wrestle with golden memories turned to dust and long-cherished fantasies that will never come to pass. A brilliant novel of psychological insight and formal experimentation reminiscent of the stories of James Joyce, Blue Voyage is a bold work of art from a winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
Blue Warrior (A Troy Pearce Novel #2)
by Mike Maden"Techno thriller fans will welcome Maden's second Troy Pearce novel, which combines grunt-level action, advanced cyber warfare, and plenty of high-tech weaponry.... Maden handles cutting edge technology and the ancient Tuareg culture with equal dexterity." --Publishers WeeklyA brutal conflict in Mali and an international race for rare elements sets the stage for Troy Pearce and his drone technology to rescue an old friend in this adrenaline-fueled series.Blue Warrior is set in the remote Sahara Desert, where a recently discovered deposit of strategically indispensable Rare Earth Elements (REEs) ignites an international rush to secure them. Standing in the way are the Tuaregs, the fierce tribe of warrior nomads of the desert wasteland, who are fighting for their independence. The Chinese offer to help the Malian government crush the rebellion by the Tuaregs in order to gain a foothold in the area, and Al-Qaeda jihadis join the fight. In the midst of all this chaos are Troy Pearce's closest friend and a mysterious woman from his past who ask him for help. Deploying his team and his newest drones to rescue his friends and save the rebellion, Troy finds that he might need more than technology to survive the battle and root out the real puppet masters behind the Tuareg genocide.
Blue Water Hues: An Ashley Grant Mystery (Rapid Reads #2)
by Vicki DelanyParamedic Ashley Grant is settling into her new life in the Caribbean, although sometimes she still feels like a fish out of water. The ambulance is called to a fire at a prestigious resort, and Ashley recognizes the victim as a hotel chef and the cousin of her friend Darlene. When a second death occurs, the police are quick to close the case. But Darlene isn't satisfied, and she drags the unwitting Ashley into the investigation. Does this idyllic beach resort have a dark side? Blue Water Hues is the second book in the Ashley Grant Mystery series.
Blue White Red: A Novel (Global African Voices Ser.)
by Alison Dundy Alain MabanckouThis tale of wild adventure reveals the dashed hopes of Africans living between worlds. When Moki returns to his village from France wearing designer clothes and affecting all the manners of a Frenchman, Massala-Massala, who lives the life of a humble peanut farmer after giving up his studies, begins to dream of following in Moki's footsteps. Together, the two take wing for Paris, where Massala-Massala finds himself a part of an underworld of out-of-work undocumented immigrants. After a botched attempt to sell metro passes purchased with a stolen checkbook, he winds up in jail and is deported. Blue White Red is a novel of postcolonial Africa where young people born into poverty dream of making it big in the cities of their former colonial masters. Alain Mabanckou's searing commentary on the lives of Africans in France is cut with the parody of African villagers who boast of a son in the country of Digol.
Blue Willow
by Deborah SmithBack in the small town of her childhood, Lily MacKenzie rekindles old flames with Artemas Colebrook, a boyhood friend and a family enemy.
Blue Willow
by Doris GatesJaney Larkin can't remember when she's lived in the same place for more than a year. Her family has to keep moving so that her father can find work. But Janey longs for a real home and the chance to make friends. When Mom gets sick and the Larkins don't have rent money. Janey offers to pay the rent with her beloved treasure - the beautiful blue willow plate that once belonged to her great-great-grandmother. Losing the plate seems like the end of the world to Janey, but it's really the beginning of something wonderful. A Newbery Honor book.
Blue Wings
by Jef AertsTwo brothers bound together by affection and responsibility. Jadran is five years older than Josh and huge enough to be nicknamed Giant. Josh is younger, and smaller; but his sweet and stubborn brother thinks in a way that would be more typical of a small child. They are both dealing with changes to their newly blended, Muslim family. So Josh looks after Jadran and they both adjust. When the brothers find an injured young crane, Jadran wants to bring it back to their small apartment and teach it to fly at any cost. And it turns out the cost is high.Intensely moving without ever slipping into sentimentality, The Blue Wings is a warm, love-filled story about fragility, strength, and brotherhood, in all its complications.
Blue World
by Robert McCammonA World Fantasy Award Finalist: Masterful and macabre short fiction from the New York Times–bestselling author of Swan Song. Father John has lived his whole life without knowing a woman&’s touch. Hard at first, his self-denial grew easier over time, as he learned to master his urges with a regimen of prayer, cold showers, and jigsaw puzzles. That changed the day that Debra Rocks entered his confessional. A rough-talking adult film actress, she has come to ask him to pray for a murdered costar. Her cinnamon perfume infects Father John, and after she departs he becomes obsessed. Around the corner from his church is a neon-lit alley of sin. He goes there hoping to save her life before he damns himself. That is &“Blue World,&” the novella that anchors this collection of chilling stories by Robert R. McCammon. Although monsters, demons, and murderers fill these pages, in McCammon&’s world the most terrifying landscape of all is the barren wasteland of a lost man&’s soul.
Blue Wren
by Bron BatemanBlue Wren is a beautiful and moving body of work from poet Bron Bateman. Using Frida Kahlo as her inspiration, she has crafted a collection of poems that builds on the themes from Of Memory and Furniture of healing and reclaiming her past. In her new book, Bron experiments with different forms, such as magical realism, prose poetry and free verse, with many poems addressed to her lover, her sister, her children and the strong influence that her mother had on her life.
Blue Yonder
by Kate AspengrenCharacters: 12 female (can be performed by 4f, or any number in between) Monologues & ScenesDramatic Comedy A familiar adage states, "Men may work from sun to sun, but women's work is never done." In BIue Yonder, the audience meets twelve mesmerizing and eccentric women including a flight instructor, a firefighter, a stuntwoman, a woman who donates body parts, an employment counselor, a professional softball player, a surgical nurse professional baseball player, and a daredevil who plays with dynamite among others. Through the monologues, each woman examines her life's work and explores the career that she has found. Or that has found her.
Blue and Green Persuasion
by TinneanNo government lasts forever, and the Third Confederation is no exception. With its collapse, the starship Midnight Ride has no choice but to run -- from rebels, pirates, and warlords, with a cargo bay of cryogenically frozen political refugees. Now, after centuries of drifting through space, trying to get home, the starship’s systems are failing, and her occupants don’t have much time left.Fortunately they’ve wandered into a solar system containing a G-type star, and it’s left to Chief Scout Hart and his scout pod Sarah to explore the sole planet that seems it might be hospitable.However, others call the blue and green planet home, and Hart must determine if they’re a threat.Will what Hart finds on the planet be enough to ensure the survival of the Midnight Ride’s passengers and crew, or will the desire for power overtake the refugees and lead to disaster?
Blue at the Mizzen (Vol. Book 20) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)
by Patrick O'Brian"The old master has us again in the palm of his hand."--Los Angeles Times (a Best Book of 1999) Napoleon has been defeated at Waterloo, and the ensuing peace brings with it both the desertion of nearly half of Captain Aubrey's crew and the sudden dimming of Aubrey's career prospects in a peacetime navy. When the Surprise is nearly sunk on her way to South America--where Aubrey and Stephen Maturin are to help Chile assert her independence from Spain--the delay occasioned by repairs reaps a harvest of strange consequences. The South American expedition is a desperate affair; and in the end Jack's bold initiative to strike at the vastly superior Spanish fleet precipitates a spectacular naval action that will determine both Chile's fate and his own.