Best of
Chick-Lit

2005

Dream with Me, Cowboy


Debra Clopton - 2005
    This enhanced edition includes some fun extras.

Table for Five


Susan Wiggs - 2005
    Thrown into this strange semblance of family, Sean McGuire and Lily Robinson work together to establish some kind of normalcy for the grief-stricken children—and in the process discover the possibilities that make everything seem worthwhile.

Sweetgrass


Mary Alice Monroe - 2005
    But Sweetgrass -- named for the indigenous grass that grows in the area -- is in trouble. Bulldozers are leveling surrounding properties. And the Blakelys could be forced to sell the one thing that continues to hold their disintegrating family together. For some of the Blakelys, the prospect of selling Sweetgrass is bittersweet -- for others, it is completely unimaginable. But as they find the strength to stay and fight, they realize that their bond as a family is all they need to stay together.

The Wishing Well


Anna Jacobs - 2005
    After all, Laura’s two children, Ryan and Deb, are grown up now, and Deb has made it plain that she holder her mother responsible for her father’s desertion and death.Laura has an uphill struggle to face as she starts to rebuild her life. Desperate to find a job and a place to live, a simple wish at a wishing well leads her to Kit Mallinder – a man in heed of a live-in housekeeper.Kit is a former journalist, who is convalescing after a car accident and he’s still finding it hard to come to terms with a slight disability that prevents him from running or leading an active life.Both facing hardship, Laura and Kit find solace and strength in one another’s company… and if they can find the courage to trust one another they might just find the kind of happiness they dream of. A contemporary romance perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy

Another Life


Sara MacDonald - 2005
    He traces her ship, The Lady Isabella, back to a small port in Cornwall where he meets Gabrielle Ellis, the woman who is going to restore her to her former glory. Together they begin to trace jigsaw pieces of the lives of the carver, Tom Welland and the real Lady Isabella.Gabrielle becomes increasingly haunted by Isabella's lost life. As Gabrielle's own life becomes inextricably involved with Mark's, her story runs parallel with the lives of Isabella, her husband Richard and Tom Welland, the carver.Two women, living more than a hundreds years apart yet against the same wild backdrop of sea and landscape, make a rash bid for freedom to live another life. But for both of them, that choice means a loss which will greatly affect the next generation.

Outcast Child


Kitty Neale - 2005
    Until tragedy strikes and her mother is killed in a devastating accident. Blaming herself, Daisy retreats into a world of silence, unable to utter a word.When her father remarries, the family home becomes unbearable at the mercy of cruel stepmother Vera. Luckily, Daisy can always count on her cousin Lizzie to bring sunshine to her life. But when shocking truths about Vera come to light, could it bring the possibility of a fresh start for Daisy after all? Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Katie Flynn, this is a rags to riches story from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Mother's Sacrifice and A Family Scandal.

The Bay At Midnight


Diane Chamberlain - 2005
    Questions about Julie's own complicity, about a devastating secret her mother kept from them all. Questions about the person who went to prison for Izzy's murder -- and about the man who didn't.Now Julie must harness the courage to revisit her past and untangle the shattering emotions that led to one unspeakable act of violence on the bay at midnight.

The Color of Light


Karen White - 2005
    Jillian had experienced her best childhood memories here-until her best friend Lauren Mills disappeared, never to be found. At the time, Linc Rising, Lauren's boyfriend and Jillian's confidant, had been a suspect in Lauren's disappearance. Now he's back on Pawleys Island-renovating the old Mills house. And as ghosts of the past are resurrected, and Jillian's daughter begins having eerie conversations with an imaginary friend named Lauren, Jillian and Linc will uncover the truth about Lauren's disappearance and about the feelings they have buried for sixteen years.

Dorothy's War


Ruth Hamilton - 2005
    Her escape is achieved just before the disastrous advent of Hitler, and there is further tragedy to come.Follow her through childhood and adolescence, then on into her twenties when, finally made whole, she wins her own battle for freedom, for love and for her own place in the world.

One Rainy Day


Joan Jonker - 2005
    Like most other nineteen-year-olds, she enjoys life. And, oh, how she loves to dance! The only blot on her happiness is her dreadful boss in the office where she works... One rainy day, Poppy is delivering a letter when she fails to notice two people approaching and is knocked to the ground. The couple are full of apologies but Poppy brushes aside the young man's offer to replace her ruined raincoat. As she walks away with her head held high, Andrew Wilkie-Brook says to his sister Charlotte, 'I wish she'd let me help, but she wouldn't listen to me.' Someone is listening, however, and her name is Fate...

The Cuckoo Child


Katie Flynn - 2005
    She tells no one until she meets Corky, another runaway and Alby, who owns a canal boat.

A Nurse at War


Maggie Holt - 2005
    So at twenty-one she escapes to London to train as a nurse, where she gathers many admirers - none more dashing than RAF officer Sandy Redfern, with whom she falls in love.But the coming of war, with the chaos of the Blitz, brings upheavals and unforeseen entanglements. On hearing of Sandy's reckless affair with a married woman, a heartbroken Lily throws herself into her work. Then further changes in circumstances bring her to a busy RAF hospital in Hampshire, where a faithful childhood sweetheart persuades her to become engaged to him.And then fate brings Sandy Redfern back into her life, physically scarred by burns and inwardly embittered. What of their once passionate love and her present commitment? Can the past ever be recaptured?

The Blue Bistro


Elin Hilderbrand - 2005
    This summer she has decided to make Nantucket home. Left flat broke by her ex-boyfriend, she is desperate to earn some fast money. When the desirable Thatcher Smith, owner of Nantucket's hottest restaurant, is the only one to offer her a job, she wonders if she can get by with no restaurant experience. Thatcher gives Adrienne a crash course in the business...and they share an instant attraction. But there is a mystery about their situation: what is it about Fiona, the Blue Bistro's chef, that captures Thatcher's attention again and again? And why does such a successful restaurant seem to be in its final season before closing its doors for good? Despite her uncertainty, Adrienne must decide whether to open her heart for the first time, or move on, as she always does.Infused with intimate Nantucket detail and filled with the warmth of passion and the breeze of doubt, The Blue Bistro is perfect summer reading.

Sowing Secrets


Trisha Ashley - 2005
    Ceridwen's Well is coming up roses. Almost. If only daughter Rosie - the result of an uncharacteristic one-night stand 18 years ago - wasn't so curious about her real father, and if only husband Mal spent less time on his hobbies, everything would be bliss. But then a face from the past turns Fran's world upside down. The handsome face of TV gardener Gabriel Weston, currently restoring the village's decrepit stately home. And when Fran's ex-boyfriend Tom appears on her doorstep, it seems that all the ghosts of Fran's romantic past are back to haunt her. Can Fran keep Rosie's paternity under wraps? Why is Mal acting so oddly? And will Fran ever learn that every rose has its thorns!?*Sowing Secrets is the paper back edition of The Generous Gardener

Lakeside Cottage


Susan Wiggs - 2005
    . . Each summer, Kate Livingston returns to her family's lakeside cottage, a place of simple living and happy times -- a place where she now hopes her shy little boy can blossom. But her quiet life gets a bit more interesting with the arrival of an intriguing new neighbor, JD Harris. Although she is a confirmed single mother and knows little of JD's past, Kate is soon drawn into the sweetness of a summer romance and discovers the passion of a lifetime. JD has good reason for being secretive. In a moment of sheer bravery the Washington, D.C., paramedic prevented a terrible tragedy. Overnight the intensely private man became a national hero. He's hardly able to remember who he was before the media frenzy . . . until he escapes to this lovely, remote part of the Northwest. Now Kate Livingston and her son have rekindled the joy of small pleasures and peace, something he thought he'd never have again. But how long will his blissful anonymity last before reality comes banging at his door?

No Such Thing as a Secret


Shelly Fredman - 2005
    It's not her fault trouble seems to follow her around. Okay, it is her fault, but why quibble over details? When Brandy (a puff piece reporter for a local Los Angeles TV news station) returns to her hometown, after a four year absence, she is thrilled to be reunited with friends and family. But her joy is short-lived when her best friend, John, becomes the victim of a tragic accident. Brandy is alone in thinking that the death is no "accident," and as she sets out to prove her theory, she stumbles upon a political scandal of major proportions. Things begin to heat up when it appears that her former boyfriend, police detective Robert Anthony DiCarlo, is involved in sabotaging the investigation. The one thing Brandy knows for sure is that people keep turning up dead, and if she doesn't get some answers, fast, she could end up on the short list. As Brandy searches out the truth, she gains some unexpected allies, including sexy, dangerous, street-savvy Nicholas Santiago, and the now-married Bobby, who still holds a torch for his former girlfriend. With humor, guts and determination Brandy tackles each challenge, be it dodging a bullet or resisting that box of Tastykakes in the cupboard. Murder, mayhem and romance abound in Shelly Fredman's novel, proving there really is No Such Thing as a Secret.

A Feather in the Rain


Alex Cord - 2005
    I felt a real affinity with the characters and hope to one day see this book as a motion picture." Harrison Ford, actor Alex Cord novel is ablaze with passion Alex Cord has starred in more than 30 movies and 300 television shows, often portraying men of grit and toughness. As a boy, he was stricken with polio and confined to a hospital. As a young man, he made a living as a professional bull rider on the rodeo circuit, once landing in a pile of broken bones that led to another lengthy stay in a hospital. Nothing, however, could prepare him to deal with the tragic loss of his son Damien Zachary. "I went into a major depression," explains Cord. "Nothing in my life seemed to have any value, any purpose." He says he pulled the covers over his head, both literally and figuratively, unable to deal with the heartache. "I came to understand the weight of the phrase, ...died of a broken heart." He dragged himself out of bed one day, determined to write down his memories of Zach. But what began as a cathartic writing exercise soon blossomed into full-blown novel, A Feather in the Rain. The story begins by telling of Jesse Burrell, a Texas rancher and horseman who had buried his son. Disconsolate, Jesse's love and lust for life went fallow. Determined to never again experience the heartache of loss, this trail-hardened cowboy chose a self-imposed lonely and celibate existence. With great effort, he managed to struggle through the motions of his life, running a ranch and occasionally winning awards in cutting horse competitions (although the ultimate dream of a Futurity championship eluded him.) That was how his life was, and that was how it seemed destined to remain. Then through a chance encounter, he meets a beautiful young woman, her own heart shattered by the death of her brother. They immediately see in each other a kindred spirit. Their explosive love affair will set readers' hearts ablaze with empathy and passion. "Of course, I know where the initial idea for the story came from," confesses Cord, "but a lot of it? Well, the story just took on a life of its own." Cord is a private man, not given to explaining where the line is that divides fiction from fact in his latest book. A Feather in the Rain is Cord's second novel. The first-Sandsong-was published by Warner Books and has been optioned for a feature film production. He has also written and sold three screenplays. Ernest Borgnine, Academy Award-winning actor, says of A Feather in the Rain, "Alex has written one of the finest love stories I’ve ever read."

Summer's Child


Luanne Rice - 2005
    On the first day of summer, Mara Jameson went out to water her garden-and was never seen again. Years after her disappearance, no one could forget the expectant mother whose glowing smile had captured the heart of everyone who'd known her: Maeve Jameson, still mourning the loss of a granddaughter she had struggled to protect...Patrick Murphy, a dogged police detective obsessed with a vanished woman...and Lily Malone, drawn to the rugged beauty of the Nova Scotia coast and its promise of a new life.Here Lily hopes to raise her nine-year-old daughter, Rose, far from the pain and loss of the past. Here she will meet a gifted scientist, Liam Neill, whose life is on a similar trajectory from heartbreak to hope. And before the season is over, Lily will find the magic that exists in people we love the best...the everyday miracles that can make the extraordinary happen anywhere.

Seeing Stars


Christina Jones - 2005
    So she is stunned to find herself surrounded by a collection of nice bit eccentric neighbours who organise their entire lives around constellation customs and the astral calendar. In Fiddlesticks, every wax and wane of the moon seems to be an excuse for a village knees-up, each appearance of Cassiopeia or Pegasus in the summer skies results in someone throwing a party and making bizarre wishes. More scarily, Amber finds that the villagers actually believe that the stars and moon can work magic. However, when Amber starts working for Mitzi Blessing's Hubble Bubble country cooking outlet as a waitress, Mitzi gently explains that there's a place for many kinds of magic even in the 21st century - and that her own recipes all have a touch of herbal witchery about them. loudly sceptical, but as she's grown very fond of her new friends - especially the gorgeously enigmatic Lewis - and assuming that it's all a bit of harmless fun, she hurls herself into the star-ceremonies and moon-myths on the grounds that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em and any excuse for a party. But when, as result of one of Amber's half-hearted celestial incantations, something totally inexplicable happens, she begins to wonder if maybe, just maybe, there's more to Fiddlesticks' astral-magic than meets the eye...

An Eligible Bachelor


Veronica Henry - 2005
    But when the film crew descends en masse, no one could have predicted that romance would be brewing before the clapperboard had snapped its last. Least of all Guy Portias, heir to the manor and favourite beau of leading lady, Richenda Fox. party is only the first of his worries. After all, his mother has her heart set on running Country House Weekends for the discerning holidaymaker and her new employee, Honor, has a talent for mass catering ... and for making Guy feel a little warm under the collar. hovering in the wings and her best friend, Henty, seems inordinately distracted by her smouldering new groom, Travis. Throw in a long-lost mother, a philandering husband and a floozy of a florist and watch the residents of Eversleigh village work themselves into a lather of epic proportions.

It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken: The Smart Girl's Break-Up Buddy


Greg Behrendt - 2005
    Greg and his wife, Amiira, share their hilarious and helpful roadmap for getting past the heartache and back into the game. From Greg Behrendt, the co-author of the smash two-million copy bestseller He's Just Not That Into You, comes It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken.There's no doubt about it--breakups suck. But in the first few hours or days or weeks that follow, there's one important truth you need to recognize: Some things can't and shouldn't be fixed, especially that loser who dumped you or forced you to dump him. Starting right here, right now, it's time to dry your tears, and open this book to Chapter One-and start turning your breakup into a breakover.The ultimate survival guide to getting over Mr. Wrong and reclaiming your inner Superfox. From how to put yourself through "he-tox," to how to throw yourself a kick-ass pity party, and reframing reality-- seeing the relationship for what it was. Complete with an essential workbook to help you put your emotions down on paper and heal.

The Jennifer Weiner Collection (Good in Bed/In Her Shoes)


Jennifer Weiner - 2005
    The smart, sharp, plus-sized reporter was perfectly happy writing about other people's lives for her local newspaper. She loves her job, her friends, her dog and her life. She has made a tenuous peace with her body and she even felt okay about ending her relationship with Bruce. But now this...'Loving a larger woman is an act of courage in our world,' Bruce has written in a national woman's magazine. And Cannie is plunged into misery, and the most amazing year of her life. IN HER SHOES: Rose Feller is thirty years old, a high-powered attorney, with a secret passion for romance novels, and dreams of a man who will tell her that she's beautiful. Meet Rose's sister Maggie. Twenty-eight years old, drop-dead gorgeous and only occasionally employed, Maggie dreams of fame and fortune - and of getting her dowdy big sister to stick to a skin-care regime. These two women are about to learn that their family is more different than they ever imagined, and that they're more alike than they'd ever believe.

Flirting with Pride and Prejudice: Fresh Perspectives on the Original Chick-Lit Masterpiece


Jennifer Crusie - 2005
    Leading authors in the area of women's literature and romance contribute to this fresh collection of essays on everything from Lydia's scandalous marriage to George Wickham to the female-dominated Bennett household and the emphasis placed on courtship and marriage. Contributors include Jo Beverly, Alesia Holliday, Mercedes Lackey, Joyce Millman, and Jill Winters. This compilation is an excellent companion for both those new to Jane Austen and well-versed Austen-philes.

Where the River Runs


Patti Callahan Henry - 2005
    All that changed when the boy she loved was killed in a tragic fire. Since then, she alone has carried the burden of a terrible secret. Now, years later, married to a wonderful man and mother of a teenage son, she is shocked to learn that a childhood friend is being blamed for that long-ago fire. Fearful but determined, Meridy returns to the South Carolina Lowcountry and summons the courage to make a decision that may destroy her well-ordered life, her family's reputation, her contented marriage, and everything she's worked so hard to protect...including her heart."Brilliant. Powerful. Magical. Do not miss this book."--New York Times bestselling author Haywood Smith

Savannah From Savannah / Savannah Comes Undone


Denise Hildreth Jones - 2005
    It is a place know to most as Savannah. It is a place know to me as home. I wish I could tell you it was my love for this city that precipitated my return. But I did not return out of a mere longing for home. I returned because I have something to prove to home. I am Savannah...from Savannah. Savannah Comes Undone Seeing my mother as the lead story on the six o'clock news was no great cause for alarm...until the camera revealed her chained to a downtown monument! I thought I knew my mother—but right now I'm not sure I even know myself. I'm currently a journalist for the Savannah Chronicle. And I don't need drama. Really. I can create my own. Who needs extra? But in spite of the mind-boggling events in Savannah this week, the truth is going to be revealed by one of its very own. I am Savannah...from Savannah.

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets


Eva Rice - 2005
    Penelope with her mother and brother struggles to maintain their vast and crumbling ancestral home while postwar London spins toward the next decade's cultural revolution. Penelope wants nothing more than to fall in love and when her new best friend Charlotte a free spirit in the young society set drags Penelope into London with all of its grand parties she sets in motion great change for them all. Charlotte's mysterious and attractive brother Harry uses Penelope to make his American ex-girlfriend jealous with unforeseen consequences and a dashing wealthy American movie producer arrives with what might be the key to Penelope's and her family's future happiness. Vibrant witty and filled with vivid historical detail The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets is an utterly unique debut novel about a time and place just slipping into history.

On the Right Side of a Dream


Sheila Williams - 2005
    I just didn’t expect to get so many.When Juanita Lewis arrived in Paper Moon, Montana, courtesy of a Greyhound bus, she was just looking for a brief respite. Instead, she found a home, friends, and a man to love. But this leave-your-attitude-by-the-door woman made a promise to herself–one that she intends to keep. Now that she’s got a place to come back to, Juanita wants to see the world.A trip out West with her eccentric trucker friend, Peaches, leads to a cooking stint at a new age spa for skinny celebrities. Crazy, but its here that Juanita decides to take her talent for cooking to a new level . . . and make it her dream. She also learns something about life: It does turn out the way you planned it–just be ready to change the plan a few times along the way.Just as Juanita’s journey begins, she’s called back to Paper Moon, having inherited an old, slightly haunted B&B, as well as a mountain of decisions. There’s her self-centered, irresponsible daughter, insisting that she get some sense and come back home to Columbus, and a son who’s doing things Juanita can’t bear to think about. So how does a middle-aged black woman from the projects follow her heart when it’s heading in so many different directions? By asking the right questions, then listening with her soul.

The Yada Yada Prayer Journal


Neta Jackson - 2005
    This smartly designed companion book includes thought-provoking quotes from the three novels, with related scriptures and nuggets for life-application - along with blank pages for your own thoughts and prayers.

Tropical Kiss


Jan Coffey - 2005
    Who could ask for anything more? Well, for Morgan Callahan, spending her entire summer in Aruba with the father, she hardly knows, is barely anything to look forward to. In fact, she is dreading the next few months.Nonetheless, she is in for the time of her life! From secret operatives to finding romance.Morgan is in for some international intrigue!

Stand By Your Man


Bobby Hutchinson - 2005
    And she's pretty certain Sebastian is guilty as charged, so she’s trying her best not to find evidence to the contrary. She's doing the exact opposite of what Finn hired her to do, betraying the guy she—well, the guy she’s supposed to be working for, the guy she just might, maybe, almost be falling for . . .

Flirting With Danger


Suzanne Enoch - 2005
    Raised to appreciate the finer things in life, Sam has no trouble divesting the wealthy of their treasures. This all changed, however, the night she attempts to steal a valuable item from a Palm Beach estate. Before she knew what hit her, a bomb goes off, a guard is killed, and Sam ends up saving millionaire Richard Addison. She's a good thief and will own up to her jobs, but if anyone thinks to tie her to murder, they better think again.On any other night, having a one hundred plus pounds of female fling herself at you is a good thing. But on this particular night, Richard Addison is mad as hell. Not only did he just have his gallery blown up-with him about to enter it-but the woman who rescued him didn't stick around to offer any explanations. When the dust settles, Rick knows the only person with answers to his questions is the mystery woman. And if she thinks she can hide from him, she better think again.

Who Stole my Magic?


Jenny Manuel - 2005
    Whether you've been together two months or ten years too long, there's a post-relationship limbo you need to survive in order to get on with your life.Every girl has a story to tell, but everyone agrees—sure, it's hard to do, but it's definitely not impossible to overcome.Jenny Manuel gathers the true and outstanding tales of women conquering breakups—from the mild to the truly horrific.

Hotel Las Flores


Kate McCabe - 2005
    But underneath the surface, all is not what it seems.There's Trish who has arrived with a pressing problem, and her oblivious writing-obsessed husband Adrian in tow. Mollie McGinty and her family are celebrating a win with a trip to Tenerife, even though she cannot stand the heat and her husband will not eat the food. Charlie Dobbins has made the trip to try to overcome his shyness with women. Bobby Bannon is escaping a public humiliation, and society hostess Monica Woodworth is determined to crawl her way back up to the top after a fall.What will happen when this quirky cast of characters all find themselves staying in the Hotel las Flores?Will they return home with a new outlook on life or even with someone new? One thing's for sure - nothing in their lives will ever be the same again.

The Joanne Harris Collection


Joanne Harris - 2005
    The titles include: "Five Quarters of the Orange", "Blackberry Wine" and "Chocolat".

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys


Kate Brian - 2005
    Now, seven years later, Megan's army doctor parents are shipping off to Korea and Megan is being sent to live with the little monsters, who are older now and quite different than she remembered them. Living in a house with seven boys will give Megan, who has never even been kissed, the perfect opportunity to learn everything there is to know about boys. And she'll send all her notes to her best friend, Tracy, in... Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys Observation #1: Being an army brat sucks. Except that this is definitely a better alternative to moving to Korea. Observation #2: Forget evil, laughing, little monsters. These guys have been touched by the Abercrombie gods. They are a blur of toned, suntanned perfection. Observation #3: I need a lock on my door. STAT. Observation #4: Three words: six-pack abs. Observation #5: Do not even get me started on the state of the bathroom. I'm thinking of calling in a hazmat team. Seriously. Observation #6: These boys know how to make enemies. Big time. Megan Meade will have to juggle a new school, a new family, a new crush -- on the boy next door, as in next bedroom door -- and a new life. Will she survive the McGowan boys?

Pretty Woman


Fern Michaels - 2005
    Now it's her third wedding anniversary, and Rosie, fed up with Kent's mistreatment, realizes her estranged best friend was right. But the day after kicking Kent out and beginning a diet and exercise regime, Rosie experiences another life-changing event: she wins $302 million in the Wonderball lottery. Now with Kent lurking in the shadows to claim a share of her money, Rosie needs her friends more than ever. As she works out under the eye of sexy personal trainer Jack Silver, a stronger new Rosie emerges -- a woman who wants to learn to trust love once again. Can she keep her vow not to be stopped by Kent's bitterness and her own self-doubts and jump into life with a passion she didn't know she possessed?

Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven?


Erica Orloff - 2005
    Now, diagnosed with cancer, she wants to name Michael as guardian of her two kids.

Lakeside


Mary Davis - 2005
    In a desperate attempt to regain peace, she returns to the lakeside cottage of her youth and prays the Lord will bring healing and rest. Garth Kessel has spent the last ten years of his life in love with Lorelei. Since he stole a kiss from the redhead one summer, he has committed her into the Lord's hands. Now it appears God has brought her back - and the woman she has become far surpasses any boyhood dream he may have created. But Lorelei has a secret - one she's convinced will keep her from enjoying life - especially a life with Garth. Can this beloved lakeside retreat provide happiness again? Or have the sins of others stripped her of a future? Fall in love with this inspiring love story and our entire collection of Christian romance novels from Heartsong Presents!

Letters from My Sister


Alice Peterson - 2005
    Preoccupied with her glamorous career in fashion, her busy life and her boyfriend Sam, she just doesn’t have the time. Then Bells announces that she’s coming to stay. She’s not a secret exactly, but . . . Sam doesn’t know she exists. For Bells doesn’t fit into Katie’s perfect world.But when Bells does arrive, everything changes for Katie. Perhaps her perfect life isn’t so perfect after all?Letters From My Sister, originally published as Look the World in the Eye, is a wonderfully funny and moving novel from the bestselling author Alice Peterson.

The A-Z Guide to Arranged Marriage


Rekha Waheed - 2005
    For a professional Bengali, her biggest fear isn't being overlooked for promotion. It's the realisation that she has to find a husband from a diminishing stock of eligible bachelors that consists of mommy's boys, coconut go-getters, and bendhoo bicharas. To join the league of the married, Maya endures family introductions, blind dates, with Internet meetings in a journey that takes her from London to New York to Dhaka, and then back to London again. And when close friend Jhanghir Rahman announces his sudden wedding, Maya realises that with love, life and marriage, a girl can use old world traditions, and new world savvy to get exactly what she wants. The A-Z Guide to Arranged Marriages celebrates the realities of an age-old tradition for the new generation. From bastard bridegrooms, interfering auntijhis's to wedding weepers, follow Maya's charming roller coaster ride through singledom and the arranged marriage process. 'Simply Splendid, so read, laugh and relate. Simply Splendid.' - HBA

Help! I've Turned Into My Mother


ReShonda Tate Billingsley - 2005
    Some will defy it. Ultimately, though, recognition will finally set in... like it or not, daughters often emulate their mothers.In an era when more mothers and daughters are exploring their relationships, Help! I've Turned Into My Mother offers an eclectic collection of true stories that provides a unique opportunity for discussion. Readers will see themselves, or others, in these tales from real-life women of all ages, races, and walks of life. Gathered by the author from messages she received on her website, the narratives include delightful reflections on the joys of growing up female, to hilarious accounts of the agony and ecstasy of being a young woman, to heartfelt tributes to parents and mentors who helped smooth the path to adulthood. Written with humor and warmth, they offer advice, encouragement, and inspiration for anyone juggling the diverse demands of life today.

While the Daffodils Danced


Cathi LaMarche - 2005
    Discovering the father was married and unwilling to claim their child, Cara offers her precious baby up for adoption. This ultimate sacrifice forces her to leave the hospital with a grieving heart, carrying nothing but an overnight bag. An artist, haunted by the images of the unknown, Cara finds it impossible to heal. Seeking solace in a field of daffodils, she creates landscapes rich with color and beauty, painting over the grief that discolors her world. In the shadow of her angst, she finds a kindred spirit and forges an unbreakable friendship that sustains her through a broken heart and the betrayal of those she once held dear. As life slips by, Cara wonders if she?ll ever find peace or the ability to forgive herself the past. Will spring deliver on its promise of rebirth and renewal, or is it just coincidence that Cara's beloved daffodils are symbols of hope?

The Worst Thing a Suburban Girl Could Imagine


Melissa Bank - 2005
    In this piece, Jane tells us about her relationship with a man who will never use her name.

Desperate Housewives: Behind Closed Doors


Sara Newberry - 2005
    This Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning show offers a glimpse into life in the suburbs-and it+s not all soccer moms and PTA meetings. From the lovably clumsy single mom Susan, to the perfectionist homemaker Bree, to the harried mother of three Lynette, to the vixen-next-door Gabriela, these housewives defy stereotypes.This first official Desperate Housewives fan guide gives viewers an irresistible glimpse into the world of Wisteria Lane. With profiles and interviews of the cast and creative team, never-before-told anecdotes and set details, glamorous photographs of the housewives (both in and out of character), as well as fascinating details from the writers and producers on what it takes to make the show-including a foreword written by the show+s creator and executive producer, Marc Cherry, on his initial inspiration in creating the show.

Christmas Guest


Jennifer Fowler - 2005
    Suddenly Scott repeats a long forgotten magical sled ride into the past, and his life changes forever.

The Greatest Romance Stories Ever Told: Seventeen Unforgettable Love Stories


Nancy Butler - 2005
    A collection of the best writing on one of literature's most popular subjects-love.

Making It Up as I Go Along


Tara Heavey - 2005
    All dreams of a tearful reunion were dashed when, a few years later, he was knocked down by a bus. So it does happen in real life. Let's hope he was wearing clean underwear at the time.' At 31, Liz Clancy is beginning to wonder how long she can blame her absent father for everything that has gone wrong in her life. Her writer's block, her disastrous penchant for older men, even her curly black hair that frizzes in the rain. Then her discovery of a photograph of her father stops her in her tracks, and she begins to wonder if the answer to her current dilemmas might lie in the past. Seeking out her father's family in the heart of Dublin's inner city, she meets a larger-than-life cast of characters, who regale her with stories of their exotic Spanish ancestry and their direct connection with the Spanish Armada. Liz is overwhelmed. Could this explain why she is so shamefully drawn to Julio Iglesias, the Gypsy Kings, to flamenco, paella and all things Spanish? Eric, himself descended from the Vikings, Liz sets off in search of the missing part of herself and to a new, and surprising future.

The island


Mary Davis - 2005
    Mackinac Island was the perfect place to soothe her wounds and avoid the manipulations of her family. But when a lone passenger boards her tour carriage, Haley Tindale feels the walls around her heart shaking. Can he be trusted? Brent Walker is searching for a young man when he encounters Haley. He finds it hard to concentrate on his mission. Perhaps he should quit the case and focus on Haley. Or maybe her insight into the island could be of use to him. Can a woman terrified of being used surrender to God and His plan? Will Haley's wounded heart forever be an impenetrable island? Fall in love with this inspiring love story and our entire collection of Christian romance novels from Heartsong Presents

Counterfeit Cowboy


Sharon Ervin - 2005
    Despite her intentionally dowdy appearance, Chelly is hired as a clerk at Diet, Manning, Diet & Harned (DMD), an upscale law firm where she encounters Don, a handsome gofer whose G.Q. look is nullified by scruffy cowboy boots. At DMD, Chelly quickly develops regard for D.R. Manning, the firm's perpetually absent partner whose primary contact with the office is by e-mail. Coworkers laud Manning's genius but describe him as crotchety, which Chelly mistakenly translates as old. Chelly is totally captivated by both her cowboy and D.R. Manning before she discovers the truth: a deception that makes her ex's betrayal pale by comparison.