The Groom's Cake

      Leetta Angel
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This short story focuses on empty-nest syndrome as experienced by a fifty-something woman on the day of her son's wedding rehearsal.Red lives with her mother in a small town on Exmoor. She's got a yearning for Connor, the local garage owner, who perhaps has a yearning for her. They're thrown together in the most unlikely way when Red's mother gets involved with a handsome man with a perfect smile. He won't take no for an answer and Red is starting to get worried. Connor has a theory, but should Red take him seriously? A short story to while away your bus/train journey. For 16 years upwards.

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    Mystery of the Ivory Charm

      Carolyn Keene
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Nancy determines whether an exquisite ivory elephant charm really protects its wearer from harm during her investigation of a circus performer who may be involved in a mysterious illegal scheme. The girl detective’s assignment becomes complicated when the elephant trainer’s young assistant seeks refuge at the Drew home from his cruel foster father. While following clues to help the boy find his real father, Nancy discovers an eerie abandoned house. As she probes, Nancy’s dangerous enemies thwart her efforts to discover a secret surrounding the unusual ivory charm. This book is the revised text. The plot of the original story (©1936) is similar with minor revisions.

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  • 259

    The Deathday Letter

      Shaun David Hutchinson
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The clock is ticking... Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer. Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never...

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    Krull

      Alan Dean Foster
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It descends from space . . . THE BLACK FORTRESS raining death and destruction upon the planet KRULL Who will rise to defend the people? Who will defy the red-eyed Beast who dwells within the Fortress? One man dares. Colwyn, who is armed with the magical Glaive. Colwin, abetted by a band of newly freed felons; a Cyclops with a sorrowful secret; the magician Ergo, small in size but great in heart; an aged Seer; and a brave young boy. Colwyn, whose betrothed is the captive of the Beast and fighting desperately to resist his loathsome embrace . . .

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    The Conformist

      Alberto Moravia
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Secrecy and Silence are second nature to Marcello Clerici, the hero of The Conformist, a book which made Alberto Moravia one of the world's most read postwar writers. Clerici is a man with everything under control - a wife who loves him, colleagues who respect him, the hidden power that comes with his secret work for the Italian political police during the Mussolini years. But then he is assigned to kill his former professor, now in exile, to demonstrate his loyalty to the Fascist state, and falls in love with a strange, compelling woman; his life is torn open - and with it the corrupt heart of Fascism. Moravia equates the rise of Italian Fascism with the psychological needs of his protagonist for whom conformity becomes an obsession in a life that has included parental neglect, an oddly self-conscious desire to engage in cruel acts, and a type of male beauty which, to Clerici's great distress, other men find attractive.From the Trade Paperback...

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    The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly

      Sun-mi Hwang
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The 2-million-copy bestselling modern fable from Korea that is winning hearts around the world This is the story of a hen named Sprout. No longer content to lay eggs on command only to have them carted off to the market, she glimpses her future every morning through the barn doors, where the other animals roam free, and comes up with a plan to escape into the wild—and to hatch an egg of her own. An anthem for individuality and motherhood, The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly has captivated millions of readers in Korea, where it is a contemporary classic. Now the novel is making its way around the world, where it has the potential to inspire generations of readers the way Jonathan Livingston Seagull or The Alchemist have. And with Nomoco's evocative illustrations throughout, this first English-language edition beautifully captures the journey of an unforgettable character in world literature.

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    The Broken Ones

      Danielle L. Jensen
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Prequel to the USA Today Bestselling Malediction TrilogyBelow Forsaken Mountain, a plot is being hatched to overthrow the tyrant king of Trollus, and Marc is the right-hand man of its leader. His involvement is information more than one troll would kill to possess, which is why he must keep it a secret from everyone, even the girl he loves. After accidentally ruining her sister's chance to become queen, Pénélope is given one last opportunity by her father, the Duke d'Angoulême, to make herself useful: she must find proof that the boy she's in love with is conspiring against the crown. If she fails, her life will be forfeit.Marc and Pénélope must navigate the complex politics of Trollus, where powers on all sides are intent on using them as pawns, forcing them to risk everything for a chance at a life together.Except being together may turn out to be the greatest risk of all.File Under: Fantasy

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    Rock Me

      Cherrie Lynn
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Loving him couldn’t be worse than losing him. Could it? Candace Andrews has had enough of pleasing others. In an act of birthday rebellion, she sets out to please herself—by walking into the tattoo parlor owned by her cousin’s ex-boyfriend. All she wants is a little ink, and Brian’s just the guy to give it to her. As soon as she submits to his masterful hands, though, the forbidden attraction she’s always felt for him resurfaces…and she realizes the devilishly sexy artist could give her so much more. Sweet, innocent Candace is the last person Brian expected to see again. She’s everything he’s not, and her family despises him. He doesn’t need the hassle, but he needs her, and this time no one is taking her away. Not even those who threaten to make his life a living hell. Backed into a corner, Candace faces the worst kind of choice. Cave in to those who think Brian is a living nightmare…or hold her ground and risk it all for the one man who rocks her world. Warning: This book contains explicit sex, naughty language, tattoos aplenty, family drama, a hot rock concert…and a bad boy hero who’s pierced in all the right places.

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  • 259

    No Interest in Love

      Cassie Mae
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Readers of Emma Chase are sure to fall for bestselling author Cassie Mae's All About Love series! In No Interest in Love, Hollywood's hottest young actor hits the road to chase his big break--and gets caught in a steamy love triangle. When Jace Carver snags a minor part in his buddy's zombie flick, he suddenly starts getting noticed all over the place. Even Hollywood megastar Carletta Ocean--known for her extensive "research" with her leading men--wants Jace for her new rom-com. The role could be a game-changer . . . if Jace nails the audition. As Jace's agent, Shaylene Kwak is all business, and isn't about to let her favorite client blow this opportunity. Since their college years, Shay has been immune to Jace's charm and rock-hard body. But long hours in close company have a way of wearing down even the best defenses, and when their platonic teasing turns into serious flirting, Jace and Shay are no longer able to resist what's been right...

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    Is a Graduation Girl

      Barbara Park
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*Barbara Park’s New York Times* bestselling chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite and has been keeping kids laughing—and reading—for more than twenty years. Over 60 million copies in print and now with a bright new look for a new generation! **  Meet the World’s Funniest Kindergartner—Junie B. Jones! It’s kindergarten graduation, and Room Nine is getting bright white graduation gowns. Mrs. says to keep them in their boxes until the big day. But Junie B. Jones just can’t help herself. Then—uh-oh!—an accident happens! Will graduation be a spotty dotty disaster?   USA Today: “Junie B. is the darling of the young-reader set.”   Publishers Weekly: “Park convinces beginning readers that Junie B.—and reading—are lots of fun.”   Kirkus Reviews: “Junie’s swarms of young fans will continue to delight in her unique take on the world. . . . A hilarious, first-rate read-aloud.”   Time: “Junie B. Jones is a feisty six-year-old with an endearing penchant for honesty.” **

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