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Perfect Fling: Serendipity's Finest Book 2 (Serendipity's Finest)
by Carly PhillipsThe New York Times bestselling author of the Dare to Love series welcomes you to Serendipity, where love, fate and fortune intertwine... Fans of Bella Andre, Rachel Gibson, Julie James and Jill Shalvis, will fall head over heels with Carly Phillips' special town and her unforgettable characters.Assistant DA Erin Marsden is Serendipity's quintessential good girl. The daughter of the ex- police chief, she's never made a misstep, content with her quiet, predictable life...or so she thinks. Until undercover cop Cole Sanders returns to town with heated interest in his eyes and shadows in his past. Neither can resist their off-the-charts chemistry, and a one-night stand brings complications neither expected. Then a case puts Erin in a killer's sights, and she succumbs to Cole's take-charge attitude. As a bodyguard, he's the best. As a lover, he's even better. But there's more than Erin's safety at stake. And Cole must forgive the sins of his past and prove to himself - and to Erin - that he's capable of the love and the forever she so desperately needs.Return to Serendipity for more sexy romance with the other books in the series, Serendipity, Destiny, Karma, Fated, Perfect Fit and Perfect Together.
A Perfect Friend
by Reynolds PriceA Moving Fable For Readers Of All Ages -- From National Book Critics Circle Award-Winning Author Reynolds Price Ben Barks loved elephants long before he'd seen one. He sometimes wondered how that love started.... It's been a whole year since Ben's mother died, and nothing has soothed his broken heart -- except thinking about elephants, those magnificent creatures his mother loved too. Imagining their awesome grace always calms him in a way that his sad father and closest friends never can. When a one-ring circus comes to Ben's small town, he discovers Sala, an elephant who survived a wicked trainer's abuses. And soon, their powerful bond becomes a miraculous healer -- and gives Ben renewed hope for the future.
The Perfect Gift
by Emma HanniganFrom the author of Letters to My Daughters, this No.1 bestselling novel is a warm, heartfelt story of mothers and daughters, and the gift of loveWhen Roisin returned home from France to the seaside village of Ballyshore heartbroken, she threw herself into fulfilling her lifelong dream of running her own artisan café. Five years on, her love life is still on ice but Nourriture, her café and delicatessen, is thriving.But then, on her thirtieth birthday, Roisin receives two pieces of unexpected news which shake her to her core: a letter from her birth mother, a woman she's never met, and some devastating news about her business.Meanwhile, the one person Roisin has always turned to, her adoptive mum Keeley, is hiding her own secret.The two women must face truths about the past. Will they discover that the gift of love between a mother and a daughter is the most precious gift of all?
The Perfect Gift: A warm, uplifting and unforgettable novel of mothers and daughters
by Emma Hannigan** THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER **'A wonderful storyteller' Cathy Kelly'Warm, intelligent and brilliant' Marian Keyes'A beautiful book by an exceptional author - lose yourself in her wonderful writing' Sinead Moriarty-----------------------Happy Birthday, darling girl...Ever since she can remember, Roisin has received a birthday card in the post. Signed with love from the birth mother she has never met.Brought up by her adoptive parents, Keeley and Doug, Roisin has wanted for nothing. But on her thirtieth birthday a letter comes that shakes her world.For Keeley, who's raised Roisin as her own, the letter reminds her of a secret she's been holding for thirty years. And for Nell, keeping watch in the lighthouse, the past is a place she rarely goes. Until a young runaway arrives seeking shelter, and unwraps the gift of hope for them all...-----------------------This beautiful, moving novel of mothers and daughters and the secrets they share will fill hearts with love and light. If you love Patricia Scanlan and Cathy Kelly's warm novels, you will adore Emma Hannigan's The Perfect Gift.Readers LOVE The Perfect Gift:'A stunningly beautiful story that in itself was a gift to our hearts and mind' 5* Reader Review'It was raw. It was emotional. It was intense. It was mind-blowing. It was utterly amazing. I cannot seem to find the right words to express how much 'The Perfect Gift' blew me away, but it truly did. Breathtakingly beautiful' 5* Reader Review'Emma Hannigan writes books that I really WANT to read! This is a book about family, love, hope, secrets, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter . . . beautifully written' 5* Reader Review'I have cried and laughed . . . Truly magical' 5* Reader Review'A truly wonderful, warm, heartfelt story, by an inspirational writer' 5* Reader Review'Wow this is another fabulous book from Emma. Brilliant story from start to finish. Couldn't put this book down' 5* Reader Review
The Perfect Gift: A warm, uplifting and unforgettable novel of mothers and daughters
by Emma Hannigan** THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER **'A wonderful storyteller' Cathy Kelly'Warm, intelligent and brilliant' Marian Keyes'A beautiful book by an exceptional author - lose yourself in her wonderful writing' Sinead Moriarty-----------------------Happy Birthday, darling girl...Ever since she can remember, Roisin has received a birthday card in the post. Signed with love from the birth mother she has never met.Brought up by her adoptive parents, Keeley and Doug, Roisin has wanted for nothing. But on her thirtieth birthday a letter comes that shakes her world.For Keeley, who's raised Roisin as her own, the letter reminds her of a secret she's been holding for thirty years. And for Nell, keeping watch in the lighthouse, the past is a place she rarely goes. Until a young runaway arrives seeking shelter, and unwraps the gift of hope for them all...-----------------------This beautiful, moving novel of mothers and daughters and the secrets they share will fill hearts with love and light. If you love Patricia Scanlan and Cathy Kelly's warm novels, you will adore Emma Hannigan's The Perfect Gift.Readers LOVE The Perfect Gift:'A stunningly beautiful story that in itself was a gift to our hearts and mind' 5* Reader Review'It was raw. It was emotional. It was intense. It was mind-blowing. It was utterly amazing. I cannot seem to find the right words to express how much 'The Perfect Gift' blew me away, but it truly did. Breathtakingly beautiful' 5* Reader Review'Emma Hannigan writes books that I really WANT to read! This is a book about family, love, hope, secrets, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter . . . beautifully written' 5* Reader Review'I have cried and laughed . . . Truly magical' 5* Reader Review'A truly wonderful, warm, heartfelt story, by an inspirational writer' 5* Reader Review'Wow this is another fabulous book from Emma. Brilliant story from start to finish. Couldn't put this book down' 5* Reader Review
The Perfect Gift: A warm, uplifting and unforgettable novel of mothers and daughters
by Emma HanniganThis beautiful, moving novel of mothers and daughters and the secrets they share will fill hearts with love and light this summer. If you love Patricia Scanlan and Cathy Kelly's warm novels, you will adore Emma Hannigan's The Perfect Gift. 'A wonderful storyteller' Cathy KellyHappy Birthday, darling girl...Ever since she can remember, Roisin has received a birthday card in the post. Signed with love from the birth mother she has never met.Brought up by her adoptive parents, Keeley and Doug, Roisin has wanted for nothing. But on her thirtieth birthday a letter comes that shakes her world.For Keeley, who's raised Roisin as her own, the letter reminds her of a secret she's been holding for thirty years. And for Nell, keeping watch in the lighthouse, the past is a place she rarely goes. Until a young runaway arrives seeking shelter, and unwraps the gift of hope for them all...
Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normality of Hating Your Body
by Courtney MartinBased on extensive research and in-depth interviews with women from various socio-economic backgrounds, Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters lays bare a stark new world culture of eating disorders, food and body issues that affect virtually all of today's women. Though eating disorders first came to be recognised about 25 years ago, Martin's book shows how the issues surrounding body image have only become more complex, more dangerous and more difficult to treat. The current 'epidemic' of obesity is simply the flip side of the same coin. Drawing from interviews with sufferers, psychologists, nutritionists, and other experts, Courtney Martin's book reveals a whole new generation of 'perfect girls' who have been conditioned from a young age to over-achieve, self-sacrifice, and hate their own bodies - this, despite being raised by a generation of mothers well-versed in the lessons of feminism. Filled with vivid and often heartbreaking personal stories, Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters is both a shocking expos and call to arms, offering hope for a new beginning, one young girl at a time.
The Perfect Guests: an enthralling, page-turning thriller full of dark family secrets
by Emma Rous'The ultimate house party mystery . . . old secrets and new dangers collide in this deliciously thrilling tale' Lisa Gardner, No.1 New York Times bestselling author'Anyone yearning for a page-turning gothic story with a big house - and a shocking family secret - at its heart should gatecrash The Perfect Guests immediately!' Eve Chase, Sunday Times bestselling authorEight strangersOne deadly invitationWelcome to Raven Hall . . .After years of abandonment, Raven Hall has been restored to its former glory. For one night only, it is playing host to an evening of murder mystery.The guests have gathered. The roles have been cast.But someone is playing a sinister game, one with devastating consequences.And as the guests are about to discover, the truth is much darker than fiction.Raven Hall is waiting for you . . .Praise for Emma Rous:'A richly atmospheric time-slip mystery with the pulse of a thriller, The Perfect Guests is deliciously evocative and absolutely spellbinding' Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author'Twisty and gripping, with a deliciously sinister murder mystery backdrop, The Perfect Guests had me utterly hooked, from its intriguing start right up until its heart-in-mouth ending. Dark, thrilling and expertly layered with secrets and suspense, it's a story you'll find impossible to put down' Holly Miller, bestselling author of The Sight of You'A fabulously atmospheric setting, a cast of intriguing characters, and layer upon layer of mystery - this is a brilliant read' C. J. Cooper, bestselling author of The Book Club'Stunningly written, simmering with secrets and tension, I cannot recommend The Perfect Guests highly enough' Jenny Ashcroft, bestselling author'A large, old house with a tragic past; a murder mystery weekend turning sinister; strange games of pretend being played within a family . . . What's not to love? Gripping from start to finish' Helen Cooper, author of The Downstairs Neighbour'A page-turning tale full of suspense, secrets and shocking revelations . . . The Perfect Guests is a deliciously compulsive read' Saskia Sarginson, bestselling author of The Twins'Twisty and utterly engrossing, I raced through it in one sitting and didn't stop until I reached the jaw-dropping ending' Lindsay Cameron, author of Just One Look'The Perfect Guests is a Gothic mystery with an intriguing sense of place and a story that slowly unfurls with sinister tension. This page-turning novel, where games are always dangerous, takes on a life of its own' Lisa Ballantyne, Richard & Judy bestselling author'This will keep you turning those pages. The characters are still playing on my mind' Jane Corry, bestselling author of My Husband's Wife
The Perfect Guy
by Ann HerrickCan Rebecca turn her new stepbrother into her new love? When Rebecca's mother marries Pres's father, Rebecca is sure that living in the same house with the guy of her dreams will have its perks and it will be just a matter of time before Pres sees her as more than a kid sister. Even though her best friend, Celeste, warns her to face reality, Rebecca doesn't listen. She thinks Pres is the perfect guy for her. But Celeste's brother, Josh, has been friends with Pres for years, and Celeste thinks she knows what she's talking about. Rebecca's not so sure about her relationship with her new step-father. She knows he can't replace her real dad, but she thinks she can break through his cool surface by helping him with the school play. But things don't go as planned, and as friendships start to change, Rebecca faces surprising truths about herself and her friends. Will she find happiness in her new family and find The Perfect Guy?
Perfect Happiness: A Novel
by Kristyn Kusek Lewis"This new novel asks tough questions about family and explores what happens when you try to re-connect with the ones you love most." — SheReads, "The best beach books of summer 2020""In Kristyn Kusek Lewis’s Perfect Happiness, Charlotte McGanley has two sides: the happiness guru with the perfectly curated Instagram profile; and the struggling wife and mother, whose life is crumbling under the pressure. In this timely novel, Lewis deftly explores the price we pay when our outer self doesn’t match our inner one. Insightful and relatable, this book proves our flaws don’t need to define us, and that happiness is always within reach." — Karma Brown, bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife"Kristyn Kusek Lewis nails this modern family story about a deeply unhappy happiness guru whose Instagram feed is at odds with her inner turmoil. I feel like I made an instant friend in the character of Charlotte McGanley and I cringed right alongside her with every failure, misstep and unnecessary glass of wine. The pressures and situations in PERFECT HAPPINESS are thoroughly of this time and place, but the pleasures and satisfaction of watching a family stumble and try to right themselves remain timeless." — Meg Mitchell Moore, author of The Islanders and Two Truths and a Lie“Lewis writes engagingly and empathically, and the supporting cast of relatable characters will keep readers absorbed as Charlotte works toward a new kind of happiness.” — Booklist
Perfect Harmony (wondergirls #5)
by Jillian BrooksI can't believe we won our regional orchestra competition, and now we get to go to the semi-finals in Chicago! But I'm really nervous.... if I mess up, I know everyone will hear Someone offered to help me... but Ryan and Felicia don't like him. What's more important... winning or keeping friends? Ages 8-12 Reading Level 4 Look for the other books in the wondergirls series about the friendship of four girls at home and at middle school including: #1 The New Girl, #4 And The Winner Is and #7 Birthday Blues with more on the way
Perfect Health for Kids
by John DouillardAccording to Ayurveda, an ancient Hindu science, health is a state of balance among the body, mind, senses and soul. This book shows specific ways to promote children's health and well-being using Ayurvedic principles. Douillard explains how to identify the signs of imminent illness, how to make the home chemical and allergen free, and how to stock a "Lazy Susan" of useful natural medicines. Appendices provide shopping lists and a directory of national health providers. Perfect Health for Kids is an accessible, illustrated guide that provides highly effective health maintenance for children.
A Perfect Heritage: A Novel
by Penny Vincenzi“A Perfect Heritage is, like the cosmetics company it profiles, a classic and very much worth the investment.” —BookreporterThe House of Farrell is a prolific skincare company and home of The Cream, an iconic face product that has seen women flocking to its flagship London store since 1953. At Farrell, you can rely on the personal touch that has been their trademark for generations. The legendary Athina Farrell remains the company’s figurehead in her kingdom at the Berkeley Arcade, while Florence Hamilton plies their cosmetics with the utmost care and discretion. She is sales advisor—and holder of secrets—extraordinaire. But of course the world of cosmetics is changing and the once glorious House of Farrell is now in decline, its customers tempted away by more fashionable brands. With no idea how to right the ship, Athina hires Bianca Bailey, a formidable businesswoman, mother of three, and someone who always gets her way. Athina and Bianca lock horns over the future of the House of Farrell but it is the past that tells its devastating tale of ambition and ego, passion and wonder. A perfect summer read, this is Penny Vincenzi at her finest.“Superbly blending the past with the present, the author not only writes a truly solid soap opera but takes an in-depth look at the world of cosmetics, advertising, and business.” —Library Journal (starred review)Praise for Penny Vincenzi“The doyenne of the modern blockbuster.” —Glamour“Soap opera? You bet—but with her well-drawn characters and engaging style, Vincenzi keeps things humming.” —People“Nobody writes smart, page-turning commercial women’s fiction like Vincenzi.” —USA Today
The Perfect Home
by Daniel KenitzFixer Upper meets Gone Girl in this suspenseful and witty domestic thriller set in the world of home renovation TV—featuring a woman who becomes public enemy #1 after a horrifying discovery prompts her to flee her celebrity husband with their twin babies.Dawn Decker is an American everywoman and the salt to her husband Wyatt&’s sweet, media-friendly charm on their Tennessee-based home renovation reality TV show, The Perfect Home. While Dawn bristles at the trappings of their D-list celebrity status, Wyatt hungers for greater fame. The couple also faces infertility issues stemming from Wyatt&’s low sperm count. He secretly orders experimental fertility drugs, and they conceive, but his personality takes a dark turn—he becomes moody, withdrawn, and even cruel. When Dawn discovers his horrifying plot to manufacture a tragedy in order to skyrocket their celebrity status, she takes their infant twins and goes on the run. Wyatt appears on national television to turn the public against her, painting Dawn as an unstable kidnapper suffering from postpartum psychosis. His charm is so compelling that even Dawn&’s closest friends doubt her. She will have to dig deep into the past—both hers and Wyatt&’s—to find allies, protect her children, and beat this beloved all-American celebrity at his own game. Told in dual perspectives from both husband and wife, this smart, captivating, and twisty thriller is a fun, addictive read from the very first page.
Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant
by Robert A. Greene Laurie TarkanFOR THE ONE IN FIVE COUPLESWHO EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONCEIVING You have more than one hundred hormones circulating in your body–reproductive hormones, pregnancy hormones, sex hormones, metabolic hormones, and stress hormones–relaying messages from tissue to tissue, organ to organ, brain to body, and body to brain. An equilibrium, aperfect balancein both partners, often determines your ability to conceive and support a pregnancy. When your body is imbalanced, conception becomes very difficult. Luckily, hormonal imbalances can be corrected. Drawing on the latest research in this field–which links underlying hormonal issues with infertility in men and women–Dr. Robert Greene, fertility specialist, ob/gyn, and reproductive endocrinologist, has created the Perfect Balance Fertility Program to help patients attain the optimal hormonal health that is necessary for conception. InDr. Robert Greene’s Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility,he shares his groundbreaking program so you can: •Identify and correct the causes of the hormonal issues that affect fertility •Use nutrition, exercise, and stress-reduction techniques to achieve a healthy equilibrium through a personalized plan •Determine when it’s time for basic or advanced reproductive techniques, such as IVF, and learn how to be your own advocate so you can avoid costly and unnecessary tests and treatments Comprehensive, friendly, and accessible,Dr. Robert Greene’s Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertilityreveals all your best options for achieving the optimal hormonal levels that will positively impact your chances for a successful pregnancy.
A Perfect Knight (Banewulf Dynasty)
by Anne HerriesA knight, a lady, and a dark, dark secret...Lady Alayne’s remarkable beauty acts as an irresistible lure to the knights of Queen Eleanor’s Court of Love. Unhappy in her first marriage, she has no desire to tie herself to another man. Until the arrival of Sir Ralph de Banewulf. His tragic past touches her, and his commanding figure is hard to ignore.On the Queen’s orders, Alayne must accompany Sir Ralph to England. A marriage between them would ensure Alayne’s protection, but this gallant knight carries secrets never shared-and, if Alayne were to marry him, she might just discover the darkness that lies at the heart of the Banewulf household...
Perfect Lies
by Kiersten WhiteThis explosive sequel to Mind Games, which New York Times bestselling author Holly Black called "a brutal, exciting gem of a book," is perfect for fans of Sara Shepard's The Lying Game series. Perfect Lies is a lightning-fast, wickedly smart tale of two sisters trapped in a web of deceit.For years, Annie and Fia have been in an endless battle for survival against the Keane Foundation. Now the sisters have found allies who can help them escape. But Annie's visions of the future and Fia's flawless instincts can't always tell them who to trust. The sisters can only rely on each other--and even their extraordinary gifts may not be enough to save them.
The Perfect Life
by Robin Lee HatcherThe Clarkson family looks perfect to many—but looks can be deceiving.Katherine Clarkson has the perfect life. Married to Brad, a loving and handsome husband, respected in their church and the community. Two grown daughters on the verge of starting families of their own. A thriving ministry. Good friends. A comfortable life.She has it all—until the day a reporter appears with shocking allegations. Splashed across the local news are accusations of Brad&’s financial impropriety at his foundation and worse, an affair with a former employee. Without warning, Katherine&’s marriage is shattered and her family torn apart. The reassuring words she&’s spoken to many brokenhearted women over the years offer little comfort now.Her world spinning, Katherine wonders if she can find the truth in the chaos that consumes her. How can she survive the loss of what she thought was the perfect life?&“Robin Lee Hatcher is one of my favorite authors.&” —Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming LoveContemporary women&’s fiction with inspirational elementsFull-length stand-alone novelIncludes a reading group guide for book clubs
A Perfect Life: A Novel
by Eileen PollackA research biologist hunts for a genetic disease marker that could hold the key to her fate—and those of two people she loves: “Absorbing.” —Publishers WeeklyA young researcher at MIT, Jane Weiss is obsessed with finding the genetic marker for Valentine’s Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder. Her pursuit is deeply personal—Valentine’s killed her mother, and she and her freewheeling sister, Laurel, could be genetic carriers; each has a fifty percent chance of developing the disease. Having seen firsthand the devastating effect Valentine’s had on her parents’ marriage, Jane is terrified she might become a burden on whomever she falls in love with and so steers clear of romantic entanglement. Then, the summer before her father’s second wedding, Jane falls hard for her future stepbrother, Willie. But Willie’s father also died from Valentine’s, raising the odds that their love will end in tragedy.When Willie bolts at a crucial moment in their relationship, Jane becomes obsessed with finding the genetic marker to the disease that threatens both their families. But if she succeeds in making history, will she and her sister have the courage to face what this newfound knowledge could mean for their lives? A Perfect Life is a thought-provoking, emotionally resonant novel of scientific discovery and self-discovery, about learning how to embrace life and love, no matter what may come. “Highly compelling . . . Pollack’s pacing is dramatic and the story line particularly gripping.” —Paula McLain, New York Times–bestselling author of The Paris Wife “[An] absorbing genetic mystery that is couched in a complicated love story and a tale of survival . . . gritty romance and medical suspense.” —Publishers Weekly“As smart and thought-provoking as it is moving.” —Celeste Ng, New York Times–bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere
Perfect Life: A Novel
by Jessica Shattuck“Jessica Shattuck’s engrossing, deceptively ambitious novel explores a wide range of subjects . . . with a shrewd and sympathetic eye.”—Tom Perrotta “In this smart and engaging follow-up to her well-received debut, The Hazards of Good Breeding, Shattuck focuses on three privileged Gen X college roommates who are now grown up, coupled up, and raising kids in pre-recession Boston. The cracks in their ‘perfect lives’ begin to show when the most precocious of the trio, a gorgeous striver named Jenny whose husband is infertile, makes the unconventional decision to have a baby with a sperm donation from Neil, her brainy, slacker ex-boyfriend from Harvard. . . . Stylish storytelling and sharp social commentary . . . make Perfect Life both topical and eminently readable.”—People
Perfect Little World: A Novel
by Kevin WilsonWilson’s ambition alone is exciting. . . . [His] writing has a Houdini-like perfection, wherein no matter how grim the variables, each lovely sentence manages to escape with all its parts intact.” —Boston GlobeThe eagerly-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller The Family Fang—a warm-hearted and moving story about a young woman making a family on her own terms.When Isabelle Poole meets Dr. Preston Grind, she’s fresh out of high school, pregnant with her art teacher's baby, and totally on her own. Izzy knows she can be a good mother but without any money or relatives to help, she’s left searching.Dr. Grind, an awkwardly charming child psychologist, has spent his life studying family, even after tragedy struck his own. Now, with the help of an eccentric billionaire, he has the chance to create a “perfect little world”—to study what would happen when ten children are raised collectively, without knowing who their biological parents are. He calls it The Infinite Family Project and he wants Izzy and her son to join.This attempt at a utopian ideal starts off promising, but soon the gentle equilibrium among the families disintegrates: unspoken resentments between the couples begin to fester; the project's funding becomes tenuous; and Izzy’s growing feelings for Dr. Grind make her question her participation in this strange experiment in the first place.Written with the same compassion and charm that won over legions of readers with The Family Fang, Kevin Wilson shows us with grace and humor that the best families are the ones we make for ourselves.
Perfect Lives
by Polly SamsonIn an English seaside town, lovers and children, young men and middle-aged women weave in and out of each other's lives and stories.A mother is tormented by her daughter's tattoo; another only pretends to love her baby. A wife stalks her husband and his new lover; a broken egg through a letterbox tells a story that will not go away; the cat thinks he knows best. Threaded throughout are longings for love and poignant disappointments, surprising pleasures and temptations. Some will fall but some, like the small boy at the circus who sees his babysitter fly past on a trapeze wearing little more than a blue bra and spangles, will retain their feeling of awe.PERFECT LIVES, follows Polly Samson's rapturously received first collection, LYING IN BED. They are rueful, knowing, witty, poignant, bashful, bold. Her genius is in the nuance.
Perfect Lives
by Polly SamsonIn an English seaside town, lovers and children, young men and middle-aged women weave in and out of each other's lives and stories.A mother is tormented by her daughter's tattoo; another only pretends to love her baby. A wife stalks her husband and his new lover; a broken egg through a letterbox tells a story that will not go away; the cat thinks he knows best. Threaded throughout are longings for love and poignant disappointments, surprising pleasures and temptations. Some will fall but some, like the small boy at the circus who sees his babysitter fly past on a trapeze wearing little more than a blue bra and spangles, will retain their feeling of awe.PERFECT LIVES, follows Polly Samson's rapturously received first collection, LYING IN BED. They are rueful, knowing, witty, poignant, bashful, bold. Her genius is in the nuance.
Perfect Love: 'a Terrific, Compassionate, Compelling Novel' Daily Mail (Rosamunde Pilcher's Bookshelf Ser.)
by Elizabeth BuchanA compassionate portrait of a modern marriage, from one of our most astute writers on relationships and family life. 'Modern marriage and its compromises ... a terrific, compassionate, compelling novel' Daily Mail Over twenty years of marriage to Max, Prue has remained a busy, contented mother and step-mother. Now, Prue's step-daughter, Violet, has returned with her new husband from New York and, suddenly, Prue is precipitated into a secret life. As she moves between a sleepy village in Hampshire, and buzzing London, Prue finds herself crossing the boundary between innocence and knowledge, exploring the line between the gluttony and surrender of desire and facing the stark realities that result. Because while marriage can be a battle-ground, extraordinary bargains and accommodations are struck between people who love one another.
Perfect Madness
by Judith WarnerA lively and provocative look at the modern culture of motherhood and at the social, economic, and political forces that shaped current ideas about parenting What is wrong with this picture? That's the question Judith Warner asks in this national bestseller after taking a good, hard look at the world of modern parenting--at anxious women at work and at home and in bed with unhappy husbands. When Warner had her first child, she was living in Paris, where parents routinely left their children home, with state-subsidized nannies, to join friends in the evening for dinner or to go on dates with their husbands. When she returned to the States, she was stunned by the cultural differences she found toward how people think about effective parenting--in particular, assumptions about motherhood. None of the mothers she met seemed happy; instead, they worried about the possibility of not having the perfect child, panicking as each developmental benchmark approached. Combining close readings of mainstream magazines, TV shows, and pop culture with a thorough command of dominant ideas in recent psychological, social, and economic theory, Perfect Madness addresses our cultural assumptions, and examines the forces that have shaped them. Working in the tradition of classics like Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique and Christopher Lasch's The Culture of Narcissism, and with an awareness of a readership that turned recent hits like The Bitch in the House and Allison Pearson's I Don't Know How She Does It into bestsellers, Warner offers a context in which to understand parenting culture and the way we live, as well as ways of imagining alternatives--actual concrete changes--that might better our lives. .