Churchill's Hour

      Michael Dobbs
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The combination of Michael Dobbs? excellent writing skills and historical passion, and the legendary character of Winston Churchill, have provided two triumphantly successful books in WINSTON?S WAR and NEVER SURRENDER. In 1941, the war appears to be going badly on many fronts. Churchill is the confirmed leader and so his domestic political struggles are slightly lessened, but battered, bloody and almost bankrupt, Britain limps on. Churchill knows his country cannot win the war alone. An alliance with America is paramount, and Churchill is determined to develop and use a friendship with Averall Harriman, American Ambassador to Britain, and personal friend of President Franklin Roosevelt. But his son's wife exploits this first. Pamela Churchill's passionate affair, conducted under her father-in-law's roof, presents Churchill with the appalling dilemma between saving his country, and allowing his son Randolph to be cuckolded. With no British battlefield successes, and with a jubilant...

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    A Small Circus

      Hans Fallada
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It is the summer of 1929, and in a small German town, a storm is brewing.Tredup, a shabby reporter working for the Pomeranian Chronicle, leads a precarious existence . . . until he takes some photographs that offer him a chance to make a fortune.While Tredup contemplates his next move, the town is buzzing. Farmers are plotting their revenge against greedy officials, a mysterious traveling salesman is stirring up trouble, and all the while, the Nazi party grows stronger as the Communists fight them in the street.As the town slowly slips into chaos, Mayor "Fatty" Gareis does everything in his power to seek the easy life.As tensions mount between workers and bosses, town and country, and Left and Right, alliances are broken, bribes are taken, and plots are hatched, until the tension spills over into violence.From the brilliant mind of one of Germany's most celebrated writers, A Small Circus is a genuine and frightening tale of small-town Germany...

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    Bad Girls with Perfect Faces

      Lynn Weingarten
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls comes a stylish thriller about the darkness that lurks inside all of us.When I looked up, his smile was wide and real. "Ready?" he said. I faked a smile back. I had gotten so good at faking things. I thought: You brought this on yourself, Sasha. You will have to pretend forever now. He squeezed my hand again. He couldn't begin to imagine what this actually was. He had no idea what I'd done. What any of us had. When Sasha's best friend Xavier gets back together with his cheating ex, Ivy, Sasha knows she needs to protect him. So she poses as a guy online to lure Ivy away. But Sasha's plan goes sickeningly wrong. And she soon learns to be careful of who you pretend to be because you might be surprised by who you become... Told in multiple points of view, Bad Girls with Perfect Faces is sexy and twisted with shocks at...

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    War in Heaven

      Charles Williams
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The discovery of an ancient holy relic in an English country church ignites the ultimate battle of good and evil in this deeply thoughtful metaphysical thriller An unidentified body lies lifeless in the offices of a British publishing house. Soon after it is discovered, an urgent request from an author arrives by post, pleading for the deletion of an important paragraph from an upcoming publication. These unlikely incidents mark the beginning of a secret war waged in the English countryside but threatening to engulf all of humankind. On the side of the godly, an archdeacon, an eccentric duke, a book editor, and a young boy must confront the dark magic of relentless satanic forces—for behind the facade of a common pharmacy, sinister plans are being laid for the negation of everything. The most horrible of conspiracies, its success hangs on the acquisition of an object of enormous supernatural power recently discovered in a small parish church: the Holy...

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    The Bare Bum Gang and the Valley of Doom

      Anthony McGowan
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Ludo, Noah, Jamie, Phillip and Jennifer are THE BARE BUM GANG! They have an embarrassing name but a cool Gang Den, so things could be worse. Ludo leads the Bare Bum Gang on a raid through the Valley of Doom, deep in enemy territory. But as they are approaching their target, the BBG are ambushed by the Dockery gang. It looks like they are about to be annihilated (or pelted with mud really hard), but then they are rescued by a strange boy called Alfie. When they get back to their den, they find that their sweet stash has been plundered. The wrappers turn up in Ludo's binocular case. Added to the military fiasco in the Valley of Doom, the sweet theft is the final straw. Can Ludo keep his position as leader of the Bare Bum Gang? Or will he have to resort to desperate measures?

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    Blind Trust

      Terri Blackstock
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Two weeks before he was to marry Sherry Grayson, Clint Jessup disappeared without a trace. Now, suddenly, eight months later, he's back with no word of explanation. Only an impossible request: trust him. Trust him despite the devastating past. . .and an inexplicable and increasingly frightening present. Whatever secret Clint is hiding, it's changed him. And it's about to change Sherry, sweeping her and Clint into a terrifying whirlpool of pursuit and intrigue--one where death and deliverance teeter on a razor edge of circumstance that can either restore or forever destroy Sherry's faith not only in Clint, but in others, and perhaps in God himself. Blind Trust is part of the Second Chances series by award-winning suspense novelist Terri Blackstock. Combining fast-paced reading with realistic characters and situations, Second Chances takes readers to where the conflict between good and evil becomes the proving grounds of faith.

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    The Liars' Gospel: A Novel

      Naomi Alderman
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RetailAn award-winning writer re-imagines the life of Jesus, from the points of view of four people closest to him before his death. This is the story of Yehoshuah, who wandered Roman-occupied Judea giving sermons and healing the sick. Now, a year after his death, four people tell their stories. His mother grieves, his friend Iehuda loses his faith, the High Priest of the Temple tries to keep the peace, and a rebel named Bar-Avo strives to bring that peace tumbling down. It was a time of political power-play and brutal tyranny. Men and women took to the streets to protest. Dictators put them down with iron force. In the midst of it all, one inconsequential preacher died. And either something miraculous happened, or someone lied.Viscerally powerful in its depictions of the period - massacres and riots, animal sacrifice and human betrayal - The Liars' Gospel makes the oldest story entirely new.ReviewPRAISE FOR NAOMI ALDERMAN'S THE LIARS' GOSPEL"A visceral retelling of the events surrounding the life of Jesus. Her would-be messiah is a puzzling drifter marginal to his own story; the ferocity of Barabbas and Judas seizes the narrative and occupies its center ground." (Hilary Mantel, author of *Bringing Up the Bodies*)"By turns poetic and visceral, The Liars' Gospel liberates towering figures from the stasis of iconography, giving them psychological depth.""A novel of such intensity, meaning and depth that it must be destined to become a classic." (Bidisha, Presenter of BBC Radio Four's *Saturday Review*)"Head spinning perspectives on the life and times of Jesus, from a novelist who wields her pen like a sword." (More)"Vibrant descriptions....haunting prose.... Alderman transforms an ancient story into her own engaging meditation on power, oppression, and belief." (Publishers Weekly)"Superb....The best-known story of all takes on messy, intricate, surging new life when freed from its biblical shackles in Naomi Alderman's reimagining." (Victoria Moore, *Daily Mail*)"A provocative and fascinating retelling of one of the foundational narratives of Western culture." (Julie Subrin, *Tablet Magazine*)"Courageous....Alderman's revision of the Christ figure is a visceral, intelligent one, and it works superbly." (Arifa Akbar, *The Independent*)"Alderman re-creates with startling immediacy the culture of first-century Judea, with its political intrigue and riots, and with its characters wondering at what the life of Yehoshuah has meant to them." (Kirkus)"Provocative and mesmerizing....Alderman here succeeds magnificently....The Liars' Gospel roots its characters firmly and vividly in their historical and political context." (Rebecca Abrams, *New Statesman*) About the AuthorNaomi Alderman is the author of Disobedience, which won the Orange Prize for New Writers and has been published in 10 languages. She contributes regularly to the Guardian and lives in London.

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    Here, Home, Hope

      Kaira Rouda
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Winner! Indie Excellence Book Award Mainstream/Literary FictionWinner! USA Book Awards Women's FictionHonorable Mention! Mainstream/Literary Fiction, Writer's Digest Book AwardsKelly Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her middling middle-American existence and her neighbors' seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding. But Kelly's own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan. From page one, Kelly's witty reflections, self-deprecating humor, and clever tactics in executing that plan--she places Post-it notes all over her house and car--will have readers laughing out loud. The next instant, however, they might rant right along with Kelly as her commitment to a sullen, anorexic teenager left on her doorstep tries her patience or as she deflects the boozy advances of a divorced neighbor. Readers will need to keep the tissue box handy, too, as Kelly repairs the damage she inflicted on a high school friend; realizes how deeply her husband, Patrick, understands and loves her; and ultimately grows into a woman empowered by her own blend of home and career. Bestselling Here, Home, Hope will surely appeal to readers of chick lit and other women's fiction titles who are ready to transition into something new in their own life.Review"Reading Kaira Rouda is like getting together with one of your best friends - fun, fast, and full of great advice! Here, Home, Hope sparkles with humor and heart." --Claire Cook, bestselling author of Must Love Dogs and Best Staged Plans"I loved Kaira Rouda's book. I love its irony and its courage and humor. . . . It's the real thing." --Jacquelyn Mitchard, bestselling author of Still Summer and The Deep End of the Ocean"Endearingly honest, consistently upbeat, Here, Home, Hope is an inspiring read that left me feeling genuinely hopeful." --Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers, and one of Oprah's Thirty Favorite Women Writers"Witty and uplifting, Here, Home, Hope is a charming debut that explores the courage it takes to reshape life and how to do it with a dash of panache." --Beth Hoffman, bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt"Relatable and inspiring. A perfect read for anyone experiencing one of life's "what's next?" moments." --Robyn Harding Author, Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis"If you've ever felt your own life contained a list of Things to Change (and whose hasn't?), then you will fall in love with Kelly Johnson, the restless protagonist of Here, Home, Hope. Kaira Rouda's funny, moving novel is a model of inspiration and reinvention for anyone seeking to find what's next in life." --Katrina Kittle, author of The Blessings of the Animals"A warm, witty, and engaging debut that had me laughing out loud. Rouda has created a lovable and perceptive heroine who navigates her struggles with honesty and awe-inspiring determination to succeed. A fun and totally satisfying read." --Amy Hatvany, author of Best Kept Secret"A wonderfully warm read about finding happiness in yourself, Kaira Rouda's debut novel skillfully portrays the triumph of self-belief over society's threatening elements." --Talli Roland, author, The Hating Game"A must read for anyone who's had their own mid-life crisis, Here, Home, Hope reminds us that it's never too late to reinvent ourselves." --Liz Fenton, author of I'll Have Who She's Having and creator of Chick Lit is not Dead"Things to Change (T2C): Make more time to read -- starting with Kaira Rouda's Here, Home, Hope a story about how women can have it all if we own it all." --Kelly Meyer, mom, philanthropist and one of O Magazine's Power List"I found Kaira Rouda's debut novel, Here, Home, Hope, inspiring, empowering and fun to read. You'll want to share it with the women you care about in your life." --Roma Downey, actress/producer"An engaging read with something to offer every woman... married, single, widowed, or divorced. I couldn't put it down." --Jacklyn Zeman, actress, nurse Bobby on General Hospital"Delightful, insightful and spot on inspiring! Immensely enjoyable read!!" --Marla Pennington, actress About the AuthorKaira Rouda is an award-winning entrepreneur and author. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four children and is at work on her next novel. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or KairaRouda.com.

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    Magic in the Mix

      Annie Barrows
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Molly and Miri Gill are twins. They look the same, act the same, sometimes even think the same. But they weren't always twins...Molly used to live in 1935, until Miri traveled back in time to save her from the clutches of Molly's evil adoptive family. Only they know about the magic, and its power to set things right. So when home repairs unleash more unexpected magic from their very special...very magical old house, the girls set off on another time-traveling adventure to the Civil War where they race against the clock to save two unusual soldiers and come to terms with the truth about Molly's real past.Brimming with lovable characters and spine-tingling magic, this long-awaited sequel will bring a whole new batch of readers to Annie Barrows' highly acclaimed, wonderfully popular world of twin-inspired magic.

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    The Cost of Living

      Deborah Levy
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A searching examination of all the dimensions of love, marriage, mourning, and kinship from two-time Booker Prize finalist Deborah Levy. To strip the wallpaper off the fairy tale of The Family House in which the comfort and happiness of men and children has been the priority is to find behind it an unthanked, unloved, neglected, exhausted woman.The Cost of Living explores the subtle erasure of women's names, spaces, and stories in the modern everyday. In this "living autobiography†? infused with warmth and humor, Deborah Levy critiques the roles that society assigns to us, and reflects on the politics of breaking with the usual gendered rituals. What does it cost a woman to unsettle old boundaries and collapse the social hierarchies that make her a minor character in a world not arranged to her advantage?Levy draws on her own experience of attempting to live with pleasure, value, and meaning—the making of a...

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    Inspector Abberline and the Gods of Rome

      Simon Clark
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Inspector Abberline is on the trail of ancient treasure and a murderer who will bring death to his door. 408 AD. The Visigoths have torn Italy apart and now besiege Rome. The emperor knows that his once mighty city will be ransacked by the barbarians. He orders his bodyguard to remove seven golden statues, known as the Gods of Rome, from the palace temple, and take them to a place of safety. Within a few short years the Roman Empire has ceased to exist and the location of the golden statues has been lost. 1890 AD. Abberline is investigating the death of Sir Alfred Denby. What at first appears to be an accident turns out to be murder and Abberline realizes that the Denby family is in danger and races to save the life of Professor William Denby, a pioneer in balloon aviation. The famous detective finds himself entangled in the world of international theft, an enduring vendetta, and the mystery of seven golden statues.

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    Horse Under Water

      Len Deighton
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The dead hand of a long-defeated Nazi Third Reich reaches out to Portugal, London and Marrakech in Deighton's second novel, featuring the same anonymous narrator and milieu of The IPCRESS File, but finds Dawlish now head of the secret British Intelligence unit, WOOC(P).The Ipcress File was a debut sensation. Here in the second Secret File, Horse under Water, skin-diving, drug trafficking and blackmail all feature in a curious story in which the dead hand of a long-defeated Hitler-Germany reaches out to Portugal, London and Marrakech, and to all the neo-Nazis of today's Europe.The detail is frightening but unfaultable; the story as up to date as ever it was. The un-named hero of The Ipcress File the same: insolent, fallible, capricious - in other words, human. But he must draw on all his abilities, good and bad, when plunged into a story of murder, betrayal and greed every bit as murky as the waters off the coast of Portugal, where the answers lie buried.

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    The Promise in a Kiss

      Stephanie Laurens
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What would you do if you were kissed by the most handsome stranger you'd ever seen? And what if that man was a Cynster?Every girl--even convent-educated ones--dreams of forbidden kisses. So when a man literally falls at Helena's feet as she's walking through the courtyard one moonlit Christmas Eve, the pretty, young comtesse d'Lisle knows he's up to no good. He's clearly a bit dangerous... and obviously caught in the middle of a clandestine rendezvous. Why else would he have risked his neck and jumped out of a window into the snow?It's wrong, it's outlandish . . . and it's the most utterly romantic gesture she's ever seen. So when the good sisters rush up, demanding to know ifshe has seen a man on the grounds, Helena ignores the years of strict upbringing that insist she reveal his presence.To lie would be a sin, but 'no one can be good all the time.As a reward for her silence, the stranger takes...

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    A Million Junes

      Emily Henry
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Romeo and Juliet meets One Hundred Years of Solitude in Emily Henry's brilliant follow-up to The Love That Split the World, about the daughter and son of two long-feuding families who fall in love while trying to uncover the truth about the strange magic and harrowing curse that has plagued their bloodlines for generations. June O'Donnell—a.k.a. Junior, a.k.a. Jack, a.k.a. Jonathan O'Donnell IV, a.k.a. the first female O'Donnell first-born—has always been haunted by her family's mythic but complicated legacy. As she prepares to begin her final year of high school, June is itching to leave behind her ghosts in Five Fingers, Michigan, and travel the world. And then, just like it always happens to the O'Donnells, a painful glimmer from her past returns to mess everything up. Enter Saul Angert, the eldest son of Eli Angert, a.k.a. June's late father's mortal enemy, back in town from a prestigious writing program to care for his...

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    Enchanted Ivy

      Sarah Beth Durst
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From School Library JournalGr 8 Up–Applying to one's dream school is a stressful process, especially if the school is Princeton, as it is for 16-year-old Lily Carter. But Lily's grandfather, an alumnus, has arranged a possible in for her: the Legacy Test. If she can pass the test by finding the Ivy Key, the exclusive Vineyard Club will guarantee her admission. The test turns out to be a means of introducing Lily to the “other” Princeton; a twin university in a parallel world inhabited by magical creatures. Tensions between the two worlds are strained, and the revelation of the Key soon brings the conflict to a head and forces Lily to confront some startling discoveries about herself, her mentally unbalanced mother, and the father who died when she was just a baby. While the story and the depiction of the magical world are fairly basic, Durst clearly enjoys spinning her supernatural ideas out of the architecture and lore of Princeton. Lily deals with the peculiarity of her situation in a believable manner, and her two potential love interests–a loner boy with orange-and-black hair and the handsome grandson of the Vineyard Club president–are charming. Fans of Lesley Livingston's “Wondrous Strange” series (HarperCollins) may find this similar melding of the mundane and the magical appealing.–Christi Esterle, Parker Library, CO. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. FromPrinceton University—prestigious, elite, and the gateway between parallel worlds. This is the stunning discovery that high-school junior Lily makes when she visits the university on the occasion of her grandfather’s fiftieth class reunion. Lily is desperate to attend Princeton, and when she is given the opportunity to take the über-exclusive Legacy Test for automatic acceptance, she thinks her dreams are about to come true. But taking the test is only part of the story, and once Lily passes, the book really kicks into gear with a monumental battle between good and evil that uncovers secret after secret not just about the university but also about Lily’s family and her unique place between the worlds of humans and monsters. While Lily is a bit slow to accept the evidence, she is a quick-thinking heroine who holds her own against not only monsters but also rival love interests who are at the ready to save her should she fall into distress. Despite the collegiate setting and high-school-age heroine, this will easily appeal to strong middle-school fantasy readers. Grades 7-12. --Kara Dean

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    The Light of Scarthey: A Romance

      Egerton Castle
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Excerpt: ...after a few seconds' investigation he turned tail, dashed into the ruins, up the steps, and burst open the door of the sitting-room, calling upon his master with a scared expression of astonishment. Captain Jack, poring over a map, his pipe sticking rakishly out of one side of his mouth, looked up amused at the Frenchman's evident excitement, while Adrian, who had been busy with the uppermost row of books upon his west wall, looked down from his ladder perch, with the pessimist's constitutional expectation of evil growing upon his face. "One comes in a boat," ejaculated Ren

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    The Competitive Nephew

      Montague Glass
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Montague Marsden Glass (born July 23, 1877 – June 21, 1934) was a British-American Jewish lawyer and writer of short stories, plays and film scripts. His greatest success came with the creation of his fictional duo Abe Potash and Mawrus Perlmutter, who appeared in three books, a play, and several films.

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