Best of
Contemporary

2004

A Nest of Sparrows


Deborah Raney - 2004
    But that’s exactly what happened. As their wedding draws near, however, tragedy strikes–and Wade must put aside his own grief in order to help Starr’s children cope. As Wade focuses his efforts on caring for the children, he discovers that their tender, young lives give tremendous meaning to his own broken one. Then Starr’s abusive ex-husband shows up to claim the offspring who barely remember him–and Wade prepares for the fight of his life. Will Anyone Believe His Claim to Love the Children More than Their Father Loves Them? A powerful novel of loss and discovery, courage and grace, A Nest of Sparrows masterfully illustrates one man’s struggle to know when to fight, when to let go, and when to simply wait.

The House on the Beach


Linda Barrett - 2004
    A script that doesn’t play well for a single woman. Happy childhood summers in Pilgrim Cove pull her back to town and a stay in Sea View House. Matthew Parker, his two young sons and his dad have shared a home since both men were widowed several years ago. And now, no women are needed in the Parker domain. But when Matt meets Laura, he discovers that his home might be missing something vital — a woman’s love. Can these two determined people figure out what’s important and take a chance on a new beginning?

Crank


Ellen Hopkins - 2004
    While under the influence of the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: "there is no perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia Snow. / There is only Bree." Bree will do all the things good girl Kristina won't, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a steady flow of crank.

Always and Forever


Lurlene McDaniel - 2004
    As the school year begins, her work is paying off: Her grades are up and she’s landed a coveted spot on the Brain Bowl team. She and her best friend, Jory Delaney, are determined to have the best junior year ever.Then Melissa receives devastating news about her health. At first she refuses to accept the doctor’s diagnosis, but as her illness gets worse, she cannot deny the truth. Only with the loving support of her family, and especially Jory, can Melissa come to terms with the mysteries of living . . . and dying.

The Seductive Impostor


Janet Chapman - 2004
     Rachel Foster wishes Sub Rosa -- the seaside mansion she helped her father build and the scene of a terrible tragedy -- would crumble into the sea. But Keenan Oakes, Sub Rosa's new owner, is moving in and stirring up the dark secrets of the cliff-perched manor.... Now, in the heat of a sizzling attraction, can Rachel clear her family's name while risking her heart on Keenan...and on a passionate love like nothing she's ever known?

Torture the Artist


Joey Goebel - 2004
    He is painfully unaware that these torments are due to the secret manipulations of New Renaissance, an experimental organization that is testing the age-old idea that art results from suffering. Since culture is so significantly influenced by music, movies, and television, New Renaissance hopes to improve the mindless mainstream by raising writers who emphasize artistic quality over commerce. As part of its top-secret sub-project, New Renaissance hires reluctant ex-musician Harlan Eiffler to manipulate its most promising prodigy, Vincent. Wickedly antisocial and deeply disgusted by what passes for entertainment in the twenty-first century, Harlan clandestinely pulls the strings so that Vincent remains a true artist. All the while, he poses as Vincent's manager, simultaneously nurturing his prolific career and torturing his soul.

The Truth About Forever


Sarah Dessen - 2004
    Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.But sometimes, unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to question her sheltered life.

Hunting and Gathering


Anna Gavalda - 2004
    She barely eats, works at night as a cleaner and lives in a tiny attic room. Downstairs in a beautiful, ornate apartment, lives Philibert Marquet de la Durbellière, a shy, erudite, upper-class man with an unlikely flatmate in the shape of the foul-mouthed but talented chef, Franck. One freezing evening Philibert overcomes his excruciating reticence to rescue Camille, unconscious, from her garret and bring her into his home.As she recovers Camille learns more about Philibert; about Franck and his guilt for his beloved but fragile grandmother Paulette, who is all he has left in the world; and about herself. And slowly, this curious quartet of misfits all discover the importance of food, friendship and love.

The Things We Do for Love


Kristin Hannah - 2004
    High School. College. Marriage. Motherhood. That was how it had gone for her sisters, her cousins, her friends. But it didn’t work out that way for Angie. She and her husband tried desperately to have a child; year after year, their perfectly decorated nursery remained empty. Finally, their marriage collapsed under the weight of lost dreams.After the divorce, Angie moved back to her hometown and rejoined her loud, loving, slightly crazy family. In West End, a place where life rises and falls in time with the tides, she will find the man who once again will open her heart to love . . . and meet the girl who will change Angie’s life.Lauren Ribido lives in a rundown apartment in a bad part of town with a mother who cares more about her next drink than about her daughter. At seventeen, Lauren knows that her aspirations in life may never come to pass.From the moment they meet, Angie sees something special in Lauren. They form a quick connection, this woman who is desperate for a daughter and the girl who has never known a mother’s love. When Lauren is abandoned by her mother, Angie doesn’t hesitate to offer the girl a place to stay. But nothing could have prepared Angie for the far-reaching repercussions of this act of kindness. In a dramatic turn of events, she and Lauren will be tested in a way that mothers and daughters seldom are. Together they will embark on an intensely moving, deeply emotional journey to the very heart of what it means to be a family.

The Ocean Between Us


Susan Wiggs - 2004
    But somewhere between her husband Steve's demanding career, raising a family, the constant uprooting and the Navy's routine, Grace has lost her sense of self. And when a nearly forgotten secret resurfaces, her discontent comes into sharp focus. Something needs to change. She needs to change.Then duty calls. Now, separated by an ocean of regrets and longing, Grace and Steve are forced to take a hard look at their faltering marriage. But when the unthinkable happens, Grace is left to face a Navy wife's worst nightmare --- the cold truth that life's biggest chances can slip away while you're looking for guarantees.

My Sister's Keeper


Jodi Picoult - 2004
    Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness. Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age 13 she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate—a life and a role that she has never challenged ... until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister—and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.

Winter's Secret


Lyn Cote - 2004
    Smashed heirlooms, ripped upholstery and rifled drawers--who is breaking into homes--stealing and vandalizing? And targeting the most vulnerable--the seniors of the small town? As the new sheriff, Rodd Durand, home again to small town Steadfast, Wisconsin, takes on the Snowmobile Burglar. In the course of her duties, Wendy Carey, the home health nurse, discovers each new break-in. The small town reels as the burglar eludes capture and steps up his crimes. A vindictive woman and a secret baby heighten the suspense. When Wendy and Rodd begin to fall in love, family complicates matters. But the real stumbling block to their love lies within. Can they break through their own insecurities over the past?Note to readers:This series (Winter's Secret, Autumn's Shadow, Summer's End) came out a decade ago from Tyndale House Publishers in trade paperback and large print. This is the revised and updated edition. In the intervening years since this series first debuted, I wrote another thirty books. When I looked over the pages of the original books, I realized that I like how I write now better. PLUS technology (ie cell phones, etc) has changed so much that these books needed sprucing up. Besides when an author writes a story, it feels like her child. And I want my "children" to look their best as I send them out into the reading world once more. So I hope you'll enjoy these books in their second improved edition. Caront reviewed Winter's Secret (Northern Intrigue #1) A fun read! March 5, 2012"I love Lyn Cote's writing, so I was excited when I saw her new book Winter's Secret. She didn't let me down, in fact, I had a hard time putting it down! ... Seriously, if you're looking for a hard core mystery or a romp, that's not Lyn's style. But if you're looking for a book that has great characters, a sweet romance, a mystery that will keep you guessing, this is for you, I know you'll enjoy it!!""Lyn Cote has the ability to write about a snowstorm with such delicious description that I can get shivers in the middle of August. In Winter's Secret, she portrays a small Wisconsin town filled with characters of depth and substance, while leading us deeper into their collective past." Hannah AlexanderWinter's Secret, book one in the Northern Intrigue series, is an excellent suspense story with a good hook and an interesting twist sure to hold a reader's interest. Ms. Cote continues to hone her craft and gain fans. Reviewed By: Bev Huston, Romantic Times ReviewsbioAn award-winning author of both contemporary and historical inspirational romance, LYN COTE has been a 2006 RITA finalist as well as a finalist for the HOLT Medallion and the National Readers Choice Award, and in 2011 a winner of the prestigious American Christian Fiction Writer's CAROL Award. Lyn lives with her husband and four cats in the northwoods of Wisconsin.Lyn has published two more romantic suspense series. If you enjoyed this one, drop by her website and Click "Buy Books" and then "Suspense" to find them listed. All are for sale on Kindle. Or look for Dangerous Season, Dangerous Game, and Dangerous Secrets, the "Harbor Intrigue" series Also His Saving Grace, Testing His Patience and Loving Constance in "Sisters of the Heart" series.

Ain't She Sweet?


Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 2004
    She alone had decided what or who was cool. Her spiral perm had been the perm against which all others were measured, and her opinion on which boys were acceptable to date the only one that counted. A beautiful, blonde - if not always benevolent - dictator, she had a reputation for being the wild child in her home town, the girl most likely to set the world on fire, and leave a trail of destruction in her wake. When she left home she swore she'd never return. Only now, fifteen years and several husbands later, she's run out of money, luck and options...But Sugar arrives back home to discover that everyone else is living her life. Her half sister is married to Sugar's high school sweetheart, the teacher she schemed to get fired is now a successful novelist and owns her old house. She also discovers that people have long memories - especially where Sugar is concerned...

Wedding Ring


Emilie Richards - 2004
    Transcendent, endowed with warmth and compassion."--Booklist Three generations of women discover the healing gift of family, memories and loveNeeding time to contemplate her troubled marriage, Tessa MacRae agrees to spend the summer helping her mother and grandmother clean out the family home in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. But the three women have never been close. Helen, the family matriarch, is domineering and sharp-tongued. Nancy, Tessa's mother, appears to be little more than a social climber. And Tessa herself is in turmoil following a family tragedy that has affected them all.Now, with the gift of time, Tessa's eyes are opened, and she begins to see her mother and grandmother for the flawed but courageous women they are. As she restores a vintage wedding ring quilt pieced by her grandmother and quilted by her mother, the secrets that have shadowed their lives unfold at last. And each woman discovers that sometimes you have to clean house to find the things you thought were lost forever.Previously published

Imperfect


Christy Barritt - 2004
    She has a major case of writer’s block, and a book signing in the small mountain town of Perfect sounds like just the solution to help her clear her head. Her trip takes a wrong turn when, on her way there, she’s involved in a hit and run—she’s hit a man, and he’s run from the scene. Before fleeing, he mouthed the word “help.” She plans to give him that help, but first she must find him.In Perfect, she finds a town that offers everything she’s ever wanted. But is something sinister going on behind the town’s cheery exterior? Was she invited as a guest of honor simply to do a book signing? Or was she lured to town for another purpose—a deadly purpose?

Shower of Stars


Nancy Herkness - 2004
    After her marriage disintegrates, she sets her heart on adopting a child. However, her adoption caseworker isn't enthusiastic about Charlie's profession of adventure travel writer when she's a single mom. So Charlie decides to write a book about New York's hottest new celebrity: sexy, enigmatic Jack Lanett. The man has found what may be the most valuable space rock in the world, one that could prove there is life on Mars. Jack hates being front-page news because he's spent a lifetime concealing his ugly past. However, he knows publicity is necessary if he wants to sell his priceless meteorite at the highest price and, even more important, gain the legitimacy he craves in the world of scientific research. He agrees to one interview with Charlie. Charlie offers Jack a business proposition. He counters with a most unusual proposal: a marriage of convenience. As Charlie struggles to adopt a daughter and Jack battles to keep his priceless discovery, they come together with a passion that astonishes both of them. Winner of the Write Touch Readers' Award . "Contemporary marriage of convenience? But it works! Jack's fighting for recognition and Charlie's fighting for a child she wants more than anything in the world. They're both fighting demons from their past and finally, a potent, I mean POTENT, attraction. I adored these two wounded warriors!" --Connie Brockway, New York Times bestselling author "Shower of Stars pleases on so many levels, it is hard to express all that makes it so special, but I do know it is worthy of a Perfect 10." -Sandra Brill, Romance Reviews Today

Falcon Saga


Francis Ray - 2004
    Louis Registered Nurse Shannon Johnson desperately needs a break from her hectic job and an unsatisfying long-term love affair. The parcel of Texas land she recently inherited is just the refuge she craves--that is, until fellow landowner Matt Taggart challenges her to prove she has what it takes to work the sprawling ranch. Shannon's pride makes her accept his dare--so does her attraction to the arrogant and utterly irresistible rancher... Engineer Madelyn Taggert was accustomed to going after what she wanted. But she never expected that a chance encounter with family friend Daniel Falcon would lead to a passionate night together--and that after the special moments they'd shared, he would walk away without a single regret. Hurt and angry, Madelyn is making plans to get on with her life and fulfill new dreams, despite the newly awakened desire she denies, but can't resist. Beautiful and wealthy socialite Dominique Falcon appears to have it all. But behind the glamorous image, Dominque feels worthless. After falling for a suave charmer who was only after her money, she vow that her next lover will be richer, more handsome, and higher up on the social ladder. But when a rough-around-the-edges guy from the school of hard knocks, enters her world, she breaks her promise and embarks on a torrid love affair. But can true love flourish between an unlikely pair from opposite ends of the social register?

Secrets


Kristen Heitzmann - 2004
    What happened all those years ago, and what is it she so desperately needs him to find? The old villa in Sonoma holds the answers, but it is now owned by a young woman who neither knows nor cares about his mission. But Rese Barret is a force to contend with, and her own impending storm could sweep him up as their sparring creates a fierce and uncomfortable attraction. From bestselling author Kristen Heitzmann.

Man Tiger


Eka Kurniawan - 2004
    The inequities and betrayals of family life coalesce around and torment this magical being. An explosive act of violence follows, and its mysterious cause is unraveled as events progress toward a heartbreaking revelation.Lyrical and bawdy, experimental and political, this extraordinary novel announces the arrival of a powerful new voice on the global literary stage.

Blue Skies


Robyn Carr - 2004
    Three friends - Nikki Burgess, who just regained custody of her children; Dixie McPherson, who is searching for true love; and Carlisle Bartlett, who harbours a dark secret - get a second chance at life and love when they join a new airline in Las Vegas, taking a gamble on their dreams.

The Stockmen


Rachael Treasure - 2004
    She dreams of riding out over the wide plains of the family property, working on the land. Instead she's stuck writing the social pages of the local paper.Then a terrible tragedy sparks a series of shocking revelations for Rosie and her family. As she tries to put her life back together, Rosie throws herself into researching the haunting true story of a 19th century Irish stockman who came to Australia and risked his all for a tiny pup and a wild dream. Is it just coincidence when Rosie meets a sexy Irish stockman of her own? And will Jim help her realise her deepest ambitions – or will he break her heart?The Stockmen moves effortlessly between the present and the past to reveal a simple yet hard-won truth – that both love and the land are timeless . . .

Meant to Be


Edie Claire - 2004
     On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Meara O’Rourke can’t help but feel alone. With her last remaining relative newly buried and her potentially disastrous engagement freshly broken, she makes a resolution to begin her life anew -- only to have an unexpected phone call turn her whole world upside down. Her biological mother Sheila, whom she met only once six years before, lies in critical condition in a nearby hospital. And though the woman once refused to see her daughter ever again -- her last wish is just the opposite.A few whispered words, and Sheila is gone. But the questions she has put into her daughter’s head, and the historic stone inn she has unknowingly bequeathed, sweep Meara up into the whirlwind of another life -- and a legacy of deception. When Meara begins to have memories of a place she's never been, she realizes that while finding out the truth about her birth and adoption could answer all her questions -- it could also tear her apart.

Almost Like Being in Love


Steve Kluger - 2004
    They keep in touch at first, but then slowly drift apart.Flash forward twenty years.Travis and Craig both have great lives, careers, and loves. But something is missing .... Travis is the first to figure it out. He's still in love with Craig, and come what may, he's going after the boy who captured his heart, even if it means forsaking his job, making a fool of himself, and entering the great unknown. Told in narrative, letters, checklists, and more, this is the must-read novel for anyone who's wondered what ever happened to that first great love.

The Debt


Angela Elwell Hunt - 2004
    She and her husband, Abel, dedicated themselves to parenting a mega-church and influenced thousands of lives through its related ministries.But when Emma Rose receives a phone call from a living, breathing remnant of her troubled past, she finds herself wondering if something in her life is woefully out of balance. The presence of this unexpected intruder soon threatens everything Emma Rose has believed about her calling, her marriage, and her relationship with God.The Debt not only invites readers to embrace the painful heartache and incomparable joy that accompany a soul's redemption, but it challenges us to follow Christ to new and unexpected places.

The Seas


Samantha Hunt - 2004
    An occasional chambermaid, granddaughter to a typesetter, and daughter to a dead man, awkward and brave, wayward and willful, she is in love (unrequited) with an Iraq War veteran thirteen years her senior. She is convinced that she is a mermaid. What she does to ease the pain of growing up lands her in prison. What she does to get out is the stuff of legend. In the words of writer Michelle Tea, The Seas is "creepy and poetic, subversive and strangely funny, [and] a phenomenal piece of literature."

Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson


Louise Rennison - 2004
    He is mine, miney, mine, mine. There is a song in my heart and do you know what it is? It is that well-known chart topper "Robbie, oh Robbie, I . . . er . . . Lobbie You!!! I Do I Do!!!"Georgia Nicolson is now the girlfriend of the Sex God (aka Robbie), and everything should be perfect. But whether it's because her loony parents drag her off to Och Aye land (aka Scotland) or because she accidentally snogs old flame Dave the Laugh at a party, Georgia's life never turns out as planned!In this edition that combines the third and fourth volumes in the hilarious #1 New York Times best-selling series, Georgia may be about to become a shameless vixen! The hysterically funny third and fourth volumes of the best-selling Georgia Nicolson diaries: knocked out by my nunga-nungas and dancing in my nuddy-pants.

The Cowgirl In Question


B.J. Daniels - 2004
    Daniels released on Aug 25, 2004 is available now for purchase.

The Cadaver Factory


Kenneth Jarrett Singleton - 2004
    He receives an opportunity from an older film-maker named Mr. Bigsley whose films are films of actual murders. Jack takes the opportunity and runs with it, becoming a master of his murderous profession. Jack, the brutal young man that he is, enjoys murdering and causing havoc in this setting of a more brutal future for mankind and mankind's ways. The tale can be called a psychotic masterpiece and is unique in its content, psychological base, and theme.

Mimosa Grove


Dinah McCall - 2004
    It is this gift—or curse, perhaps—that drove her own mother mad and has left Laurel unwilling to trust in love...except in her dreams.Anxious for a new beginning, she decides to retreat to Mimosa Grove, an old estate outside Bayou Jean, Louisiana. Mimosa Grove belongs to Laurel now, bequeathed by her maternal grandmother. Laurel feels the history and tragedy here, and amidst the primeval beauty she senses something...unfinished. Folks here know about her grandmother's gift and treat Laurel with the same reverence—especially when she is able to help the police find a missing girl. It is then that she sees Justin Bouvier—stranger, soul mate, the man who haunts her dreams. But there is danger here in Mimosa Grove, not from the restless past, but from the deadly present. Laurel must be willing to trust her gift, her love for Justin and, most of all, herself, to stop tragedy and history from repeating themselves.

Summer by the Sea


Susan Wiggs - 2004
    For Rosa, though, there has been no real romance since her love affair with Alexander Montgomery ended suddenly and without explanation a decade ago.But Rosa's life takes an unexpected turn when Alexander arrives back in town and asks for her help sorting through his late mother's affairs. Reunited at the beach house where they first met and fell in love, Rosa and Alexander discover that the secrets of the past are not what they seem. Now, with all that she wants right in front of her, Rosa searches for happiness with the man who once broke her heart --- and learns that in love, as in life, there are second chances.

P.S. I Love You


Cecelia Ahern - 2004
    Holly couldn't live without her husband Gerry, until the day she had to. They were the kind of young couple who could finish each other's sentences. When Gerry succumbs to a terminal illness and dies, 30-year-old Holly is set adrift, unable to pick up the pieces. But with the help of a series of letters her husband left her before he died and a little nudging from an eccentric assortment of family and friends, she learns to laugh, overcome her fears, and discover a world she never knew existed. The kind of enchanting novel with cross-generational appeal that comes along once in a great while, PS, I Love You is a captivating love letter to the world!

Northern Lights


Nora Roberts - 2004
    With nowhere else to go, he accepted the job as Chief of Police in a tiny, remote Alaskan town with the hopes of starting over. Despite the name, Lunacy provides a balm for Nate's shattered soul—and an unexpected affair with pilot Meg Galloway warms his nights...But other things in Lunacy are heating up. Nate suspects the killer in an unsolved murder still walks the snowy streets. His investigation will unearth the secrets and suspicions that lurk beneath the placid surface, as well as bring out the big-city survival instincts that made him a cop in the first place. And his discovery will threaten the new life—and the new love—that he has finally found for himself.

Mending Places


Denise Hunter - 2004
    Almost immediately, Hanna betrays her own professional reservations and finds herself enamored by the mystery of Micah's carefully guarded past. When the two unexpectedly fall in love, Micah is forced to face the hidden places that haunt him, and Hanna must address her fears and determine if forgiveness can make way for love. Teeming with suspicion and intrigue, this Grand Teton adventure leaves the reader struggling with the Christian response of forgiveness in the midst of emotional entanglements, fears of the heart, and the inevitable agony of love. Has fate brought the two together, or will circumstances tear them apart? What are the secrets that Micah guards so closely? Will love and forgiveness conquer the entanglements of their past and make way for a future together?

Summer, with Love


Sarah Morgan - 2004
    Remember that summer when everything changed? Katy: Days away from marrying a man she doesn't love, Katy's shocked when fate throws her in the path of Jago Rodriguez - he may have left her years before, but now he's back, more beautiful than ever and still makes her heart skip a beat...Libby: Spirited, impulsive and independent, Libby has no interest in relationships, until she comes face to face with a man who won't give up and a date she can't turn down! Alex: Wanted by every woman he's ever met, Alex is totally unprepared when a stranger appears on his doorstep with a baby in her arms and turns his world upside down.

Deadly Shadows


Jaycee Clark - 2004
    If she keeps to herself, she can’t get hurt. Haunted by the past, Jesslyn never again wants to experience the soul-shredding pain of losing loved ones.But a murder changes that.Aiden Kinncaid is running from his own secret loss. As the CEO of Kinncaid Enterprises, he travels to this remote Colorado resort town to oversee the opening of the new Highland Hotel. Though he’s not interested in any kind of relationship, he finds himself drawn to this temperamental, brown-eyed beauty. And her rough-edged attitude is a challenge to him.But whether or not either sought a relationship—they’ve found one. Aiden wants to protect Jesslyn even if she claims she can take care of herself, and she finds she can’t stop thinking about Aiden, even when he annoys her. Will they get their second chance at love and life before the killer eliminates one problem he doesn’t need?

The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud


Ben Sherwood - 2004
    Cloud tells the haunting story of a young man who narrowly survives a terrible car wreck that kills his little brother. Years later, the brothers’ bond remains so strong that it transcends the normal boundaries separating life and death. Charlie St. Cloud lives in a snug New England fishing village. By day he tends the lawns and monuments of the ancient cemetery where his younger brother, Sam, is buried. Graced with an extraordinary gift after surviving the accident, he can still see, talk, and even play catch with Sam’s spirit. But townsfolk whisper that Charlie has never recovered from his loss.Into his carefully ordered life comes Tess Carroll, a captivating, adventuresome woman training for a solo sailing trip around the globe. Fate steers her boat into a treacherous storm that blows her back to harbor, to a charged encounter with Charlie, and to a surprise more overwhelming than the violent sea itself. Charlie and Tess discover a beautiful and uncommon connection that leads to a race against time and a desperate choice between death and life, between the past and the future, between holding on and letting go.Luminous, soulful, and filled with unforgettable characters, The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud is one of those rare, wise books that reveal the mysteries of the unseen world around us, gently transforming the worst pain of loss into hope, healing, and even laughter. Suspenseful and deeply moving, its startling climax reminds us that sometimes tragedies can bring about miracles if we simply open our hearts.

Halos


Kristen Heitzmann - 2004
    When Alessi Moore drives her red Mustang convertible into town, she wonders if this could be the place she was meant to find, a place to settle down. But when her convertible and all she owns is stolen, she is filled with doubt.

Maeve Binchy Value Collection: The Copper Beach, Circle of Friends, The Glass Lake


Maeve Binchy - 2004
    And at the heart of every Maeve Binchy novel, the lives and loves of vividly drawn characters are deftly woven into unforgettable, beautifully realized tales. Now, in this charming audio set, three of Maeve Binchy's classic coming-of-age tales are collected together. These wonderful audio presentations represent the very best work of one of the world's most celebrated authors. And listening to her comforting stories feels just like coming home.The Copper BeechCarved on the trunk of the mighty copper beech tree that embraces the schoolyard in Sharcarrig are declarations of love, hope, and identity--the youthful dreams of the children who studied there. Now grown, yet shaped by their years in the schoolhouse, they lead different lives. The Copper Beech tells the story of these eight dreamers.Circle of FriendsCircle of Friends begins with the pair of Benny Hogan and Eve Malone from the village of Knockglen until they leave for university in Dublin and are joined by Nan Mahon and Jack Foley. Long-hidden lies emerge to test the meaning of love and the strength of ties held within the fragile gold bands of a circle of friends.The Glass LakeIn The Glass Lake, Maeve Binchy explores the unspoken language between mothers and daughters in an extraordinary story of a mother's secret, a daughter's courage, and the hidden bond between them that neither deceit nor death can destroy.

Her Forever Cowboy


Debra Salonen - 2004
    Single mom Anne Fraser has sacrificed plenty to get ahead in the world of corporate hotel management. Just ask her eight-year-old daughter, Zoey. When her stepfather asks Anne to fill her late mother’s shoes at the Silver Rose Guest Ranch, Anne can’t say no. Even if the job includes sharing the reins with the man whose kiss she’s never forgotten. Will Cavanaugh planned to be the top bull rider in the country. He’s come close in his fifteen-year career, but now an injury has him sidelined for the summer. He answers his grandfather’s plea for help but soon realizes he’s facing a new dilemma. Could one summer with Anne and her daughter possibly be enough? Or is it just the beginning? Battered and a bit disillusioned by life, Will and Anne return to the Silver Rose to repay old debts. To fall in love again. But, just for the summer. Or, maybe...for a lifetime.

Why the Sky Is Blue


Susan Meissner - 2004
    Happily married and the mother of two when she is attacked, Claire begins an incredible journey on the painful pathway to trusting God ?in all things.? When Claire's husband, Dan, confesses he can?t be a father to the expected child, Claire's decision to put the baby up for adoption creates a sense of tremendous loss for Claire. Later, unexpected circumstances turn this seeming loss into victory.This wonderful first novel isn?t a "love" story....but a "life "story, presenting the twin themes trusting God in tragic circumstances and reaping the rewards that eventually come with sacrificial loving.

The Princess Diaries: Princess in Love / Princess in Waiting / Project Princess / Princess in Pink


Meg Cabot - 2004
    

Behind Those Eyes


T.P. Carter - 2004
    Her new love, Derrick, is everything she's ever wanted in a man. Until she meets Nathaniel Woods. Nat is Derrick's best friend - happily married with a wonderful wife, beautiful daughter, and a booming career. But when he meets Derrick's new girlfriend, he can't take his eyes off her.

Stone's Revenge


Sylvia Hubbard - 2004
    William is the son of a serial killer; Therefore William's nemesis, prosecuting attorney Ramsey McPherson feels the apple does not fall too far from the tree. Ramsey makes it his number one mission to put William behind bars. William vows revenge against Ramsey with every intention to hurt what Ramsey holds dear in his life and that is the prosecuting attorney's daughter Abigail, who thinks someone is trying to frame William. Abigail and William fall in love and they keep their love affair a secret from Ramsey. Yet with a murder so gruesome happening on a night when Abigail and William are together, Abigail is forced to choose between not telling where William was or revealing to her father that she is truly in love with William. Only question remains: Who's the real killer?

Shadow Valley


Gwen Hunter - 2004
    Fleeing a crumbling marriage, Mac needs some time to bond with her daughter and escape the betrayal that still leaves her numb. But when a drifter abducts Bella and carries her on horseback deep into the woods, Mac must pull from her greatest reserves to fight for her daughter's safe return. When her soon-to-be ex-husband arrives, old wounds flare, and Mac turns to Caleb Howell, a local ranger, who helps keep her focused on the most important task: finding Bella. Then astonishing evidence comes to light that reveals the abduction was not as random as they first believed. But as hours turn into days, Mac must struggle to keep her hope -- and her terrified daughter -- alive.

The Callahan Brothers: Blue Bayou, River Road, Magnolia Moon


JoAnn Ross - 2004
     BLUE BAYOU When Danielle Dupree returns to her childhood hometown as a widow with a young son, she discovers that her "bad boy" first love, Jack Callahan, has also come home. But even as their passion reignites, Dani and Jack know that secrets hang in the air...and that the past may ruin their second chance at having a once-in-a-lifetime love. RIVER ROAD FBI agent Finn Callahan owes his brother, the mayor, a favor. So when visiting television star Julia Summers receives a death threat, it's up to Finn to guarantee her safety. Free-spirited Julia figures she'll just use her feminine wiles to keep the stern but handsome bodyguard out of her way...until her attraction to Finn puts them both in danger of falling passionately in love. MAGNOLIA MOON Having just discovered that she's adopted, L.A. homicide detective Regan Hart comes to Blue Bayou to uncover her true identity. With the help of Nate Callahan, the town's mayor and most eligible bachelor, Regan slowly pieces together the puzzle of her family's history -- and finds herself unexpectedly losing her heart to Nate....

Once Upon a Christmas


Sarah Morgan - 2004
    That leaves Bryony with one month to find the perfect man, so this year she's wishing for a miracle!While she's looking for love, her best friend Helen is doing the opposite. Her Christmas wish is to forget all about the white dress hanging in her wardrobe - and her faithless rat of a fiance.Helen and Bryoney's festive cheer definitely needs a boost, so it's lucky that once upon a Christmas, wishes really do come true...(Text on cover)

The Summer Guest


Justin Cronin - 2004
    He comes bearing two things: his wish for a day of fishing in a place that has brought him solace for thirty years, and an astonishing bequest that will forever change the lives of those around him.From the battlefields of Italy to the turbulence of the Vietnam era, to the private battles of love and family, The Summer Guest reveals the full history of this final pilgrimage and its meaning for four people: Jordan Patterson, the haunted young man who will guide Harry on his last voyage out; the camp’s owner Joe Crosby, a Vietnam draft evader who has spent a lifetime “trying to learn what it means to be brave”; Joe’s wife, Lucy, the woman Harry has loved for three decades; and Joe and Lucy’s daughter Kate—the spirited young woman who holds the key to the last unopened door to the past.As their stories unfold, secrets are revealed, courage is tested, and the bonds of love are strengthened. And always center stage is the place itself—a magical, forgotten corner of New England where the longings of the human heart are mirrored in the wild beauty of the landscape.

Four Degrees of Heat


BRENDA L THOMAS - 2004
    Thomas. But when her secret double life follows her home to Philadelphia, things swing wildly out of control as she tries to walk the line between sexy woman and sex object. Worlds collide when a street-smart beauty scores with a multimillionaire during a summer that climaxes with the New York City blackout. Crystal Lacey Winslow captures the edgy thrills—and the dark side—of carnal pleasures in Sex, Sin & Brooklyn. In Rochelle Alers' Summer Madness, a sexy brother with a mysterious past turns a pretty librarian's play-it-safe Hamptons vacation into a torrent of sensual delights. But can she trust him without knowing his whole story? A jilted bride is on the Rebound in ReShonda Tate Billingsley's tale of passion in unexpected places. A Houston attorney goes solo on the Belize honeymoon she was supposed to share with her husband—and makes a sizzling connection with a handsome stranger in paradise.

In My Bedroom


Donna Hill - 2004
    What everyone doesn't know is that behind closed doors, the picture isn't so perfect. And in the recesses of Rayne's mind she harbors a dark past that even she in unaware of.Then tragedy strikes, and Rayne slowly discovers that the story of her life is just beginning and nothing and no one are as they seem. . .

The First Last Kiss


Ali Harris - 2004
    The first time Molly kissed Ryan, she knew they'd be together forever. Six years and thousands of kisses later she's married to the man she loves. But today, when Ryan kisses her, Molly realises how many of them she wasted because the future holds something which neither of them could have ever predicted…

To Die For


Linda Howard - 2004
    She’s pretty, confident, and the owner of a thriving up-scale fitness center. But in the shadow of success, a troubled member of the club develops a strange fixation on Blair, imitating her style and dress. Matters take a darker turn when the look-alike is shot dead–and Blair witnesses the horror.As the media speculates on the tawdry details of the homicide and pushes Blair into the harsh spotlight, she locks horns with police lieutenant Wyatt Bloodsworth. He wants to lead an investigation without interference, while Blair is determined to probe the dead woman’s life on her own. But when someone begins to menace Blair with mounting threats, Wyatt takes notice: Was this murder indeed a lethal case of mistaken identity–and was Blair the intended victim?

The Daffodil Principle


Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards - 2004
    Amazingly, this special spot, known as "The Daffodil Garden," was planted by one person, one bulb at a time, over a period of thirty-five years.  Since “The Daffodil Principle” was first published, the story has gained international popularity and has been retold innumerable times. Available now for the first time as an illustrated gift book featuring vibrant artwork by Anne Marie Oborn, this story will touch your heart with its simple message: Start today, one step at a time, to change your world.

Empty Streets


Michal Ajvaz - 2004
    As he begins to notice the object’s strange shape reproduced in various places around the city, he realizes that it holds the key to uncovering the truth about the recent disappearance of a young girl. His attempts to understand the meaning of the object bring him into contact with an array of characters, and the stories they tell him widen the vortex of uncertainty that the object has opened. Will the increasingly intricate web of clues eventually lead him to the truth? Empty Streets is both a thrilling fantasy and a philosophical meditation on the search for meaning in modern life.

To Win Her Heart


Brenda Novak - 2004
    If she doesn’t get her parents back together and get her mom out of her hair, she’ll go crazy. So April schemes to take them on a getaway to Mexico, hoping the vacation will lead to romance. And it does—but not in the way she expected. Because her parents have a plan of their own in mind, and it involves April and heartthrob race-car driver “Gunner” Stevens…Originally published in 2004 under the title What a Girl Wants, in the anthology Mother, Please!

Come Clean


Terri Paddock - 2004
    After trying to drown her feelings with her first ever experiment with alcohol, she is woken early by her mother one Sunday morning. Bundled into the car by her livid parents, Justine is driven to Come Clean, a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts and alcoholics. Confused, vulnerable and covered with vomit from her first hangover, Justine is forcibly admitted to cure her “addiction”.There she begins a strict boot-camp routine of humiliation and discipline, where they attempt to strip her of her identity in order to rebuild her a better person. Justine escapes the daily torture at the centre by talking to Joshua in her head, reflecting back on their childhood and trying to puzzle out why her brother was a tortured soul… and why he chose to leave her.Because of the intensely personal nature of the narrative, this book engages the reader instantly and, however tough the subject matter, it is a real page-turner. At its heart, Come Clean is about a girl's inability to deal her grief and her family’s ignorance of her pain. Justine shows strength, resilience, courage and hope while living a nightmare reality.

The Turtle Warrior


Mary Relindes Ellis - 2004
    By 1967 the Lucas farm has fallen into disrepair, thanks to the hard drinking of John Lucas, who brutalizes his wife and two sons. When the eldest, James, escapes by enlisting to fight in Vietnam, he leaves young Bill alone to protect his mother with only his own will and the spirit of his brother to guide him. Beautifully written and deeply felt, The Turtle Warrior takes readers from the heartland of America to the battlefields of World War II and Vietnam weaving a haunting tale of an unforgettable world where the physical and spiritual, the past and the present, merge.

Pretty Shade of Grey


A.D. Truax - 2004
    Two unusual people result in an equally unusual relationship. m/m slash (rough draft).Status: Complete - Chapters: 13 Word count: 126,864 words Currently taken down for editing and/or publishing preparation.

The Breakable Vow


Kathryn Ann Clarke - 2004
    . . Annie McGowan is eighteen years old, smart, wisecracking, fun-loving . . . a typical teenager. Yet circumstances force Annie out of the security of high school and into a world of problems all her own. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy and a turbulent, violent relationship with her boyfriend, Kevin, Annie's life begins to spiral out of control. And though her worst fears about Kevin are realized, in the heat of the moment, she finds the courage to fight back.First-time author and domestic violence expert Kathryn Ann Clarke brings clarity and compassion to an often hotly debated issue. In this inspiring debut novel, one remarkable young woman faces the most difficult odds and emerges on the other side -- whole."The Breakable Vow" features a special educational Classroom Guide section in the back of the book that discusses: How to Recognize the Danger Signs of an Abusive Relationship, Safety Planning, Break-Up Planning, Cycle of Violence, Questions to Ask About the New Person in Your Life, and much more.

What the Doctor Ordered


Sierra St. James - 2004
    They can barely speak a civil word to each other when they find themselves in the same room. But Aunt Bertie, who is not crazy, just -eccentric- knows that John and Ellie belong together, and she's doing all she can to further their cause. When Ellie comes to Colton Idaho, to spend the summer with Aunt Bertie and prove to her parents that her aunt doesn't belong in an assisted-care facility, the confusion begins. Bertie's determination to marry Ellie off to Dr. John Flynn leads to a hilarious string of miscommunications in this delightful romantic comedy.

Betrayal Of the Trust


Leslie Esdaile Banks - 2004
    The only thing worse than a woman scorned is a woman who can make her enemies pay, and Laura Caldwell intends to make them pay with everything they've got.

Can't Get There from Here


Todd Strasser - 2004
    She lives with a tribe of homeless teens -- runaways and throwaways, kids who have no place to go other than the cold city streets, and no family except for one another. Abused, abandoned, and forgotten, they struggle against the cold, hunger, and constant danger. With the frigid winds of January comes a new girl: Tears, a twelve-year-old whose mother doesn't believe Tears's stepfather abuses her. As the other kids start to disappear -- victims of violence, addiction, and exposure -- Maybe tries to help Tears get off the streets...if it's not already too late.

A Time Between Ashes & Roses


أدونيس - 2004
     In this noted anthology, the poet Adonis evokes the wisdom of Whitman's Leaves of Grass (which he liberally excerpts and remolds), the modernism of William Carlos Williams, and the haunting urban imagery of Baudelaire, Cavafy, and Lorca. Three long poems allow him to explore profoundly the human condition, by examining language and love, race and favor, faith and dogma, war and ruin. In the lyrical "This Is My Name " and "Introduction to the History of the Petty Kings, " Adonis ponders Arab defeat and defeatism. In "A Grave for New York, " he focuses on Vietnam-era America. Originally published in 1970 to widespread acclaim, the collection has been reprinted often but has never before appeared in English. Enhanced by Shawkat M. Toorawa's bilingual edition of the Arabic and English on facing pages, an afterword, and assisted by a critical bibliography of Adonis's works, this book is a crucial reference for all students and scholars of modern and Middle Eastern poetry and culture. Noted Syrian intellectual Nasser Rabbat offers a compelling foreword.

Collected Poems of James K. Baxter


James K. Baxter - 2004
    This edition includes two poems not in the original, Moss on Plum Branches and A Pair of Sandals, both written in the week of the poet's death.

Slick


Daniel Price - 2004
    She writhes her way across the nation and beyond, seducing us all with her light and noise. Love her or hate her, you can’t escape her. She’s the American media–and nobody understands her better than Scott Singer.A rising star in the world of public relations, Scott is a master at manipulating the news, especially when the news isn’t good for his clients. To journalists, he’s the dark prince of deception. To others, he’s merely the product of an amoral corporate culture. Not that their opinions matter to Scott, who shelved his ego years ago. It’s the only way to stay sane in a business that thrives on flying off the handle.The trouble begins on the first day of Sweeps, when a fifteen-year-old girl goes on a fatal shooting spree in her high school cafeteria. For the news networks, it’s a ratings bonanza, especially when clues suggest that the tragedy was loosely inspired by a popular rap song. Suddenly America’s outrage is focused on Hunta, a young L.A. hip-hop artist who was on the verge of becoming a mainstream star. Now he’s Public Enemy Number One, and his life is about to get infinitely worse.Saving Hunta could be the crowning achievement of Scott’s career, but he knows it won’t be easy. To take control of the story, he’ll have to upstage it. And to do that, he’ll have to engineer a hoax more ambitious and more elaborate than any publicist has ever attempted before.From the Hardcover edition.

Telephone


Percival Everett - 2004
    Expert in a very narrow area—the geological history of a cave forty-four meters above the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon—he is a laconic man who plays chess with his daughter, trades puns with his wife while she does yoga, and dodges committee work at the college where he teaches.After a field trip to the desert yields nothing more than a colleague with a tenure problem and a student with an unwelcome crush on him, Wells returns home to find his world crumbling. His daughter has lost her edge at chess, she has developed mysterious eye problems, and her memory has lost its grasp. Powerless in the face of his daughter’s slow deterioration, he finds a mysterious note asking for help tucked into the pocket of a jacket he’s ordered off eBay. Desperate for someone to save, he sets off to New Mexico in secret on a quixotic rescue mission.A deeply affecting story about the lengths to which loss and grief will drive us, Telephone is a Percival Everett novel we should have seen coming all along, one that will shake you to the core as it asks questions about the power of narrative to save.

Wonderwater: Alice Offshore


Roni Horn - 2004
    Each volume comprises a text written in response to the same selection of Horn's titles/phrases: "19th C. Water; Cabinet Of; Dead Owl; Gurgles, Sucks, Echoes; Her, Her, Her and Her; Untitled (Yes); Water, Still; You are the Weather."The respondents are sculptor Louise Bourgeois, poet/writer Anne Carson, philosopher/writer Helene Cixous and film director/artist John Waters. Individually, these booklets embody the voice of each writer. Together they become the content of "Wonderwater (Alice Offshore)"--further extending the landscape of Roni Horn's art.

Verso


Pattie McCarthy - 2004
    Pattie McCarthy has been one of our most intellectually ambitious poets-- a tradition she shares with Rachel Blau DuPlessis & with H.D. And indeed with the likes of Pound and Olson. We can still count the number of women who attempt writing on such a scale on the fingers of our hands. So it is worth noting and celebrating this addition to that roster -- Ron Silliman. Pattie McCarthy's BK OF (H)RS was also published by Apogee Press in 2002. She received her M.A. in Creative Writing (Poetry) from Temple University. Her work has appeared in many magazines and journals, including 26: A JOURNAL OF POETRY & POETICS, AMERICAN LETTERS & COMMENTARY, ixnay magazine, Kiosk, and Pom2. She lives in Philadelphia

Firmament


Tim Bowler - 2004
    "Special hands. Strong and sensitive. You can do anything you want with hands like these. So don't ever put them to bad use.""Luke has good hands. Everybody says so. Good for playing the piano -- just like his father did before he died. And good for climbing -- climbing trees, climbing toward the stars, in search of some peace away from family troubles.Now Skin and his gang want Luke to do some climbing for them. They want him to climb into Mrs. Little's house to look for something to steal. They want him to prove he's a real part of the gang.But nobody is ready for what Luke discovers when he does climb into the house. He encounters something so unexpected that it changes everything -- something that unlocks secrets and helps Luke find out exactly who he is and what it is that he's been searching for.

Homesick


Eshkol Nevo - 2004
    Noa is studying photography in Jerusalem and Amir is a psychology student in Tel Aviv. They choose a small apartment in a village in the hills, midway between the two cities. Originally called El-Kastel, the village was emptied of its Arab inhabitants in 1948 and is now the home of Jewish immigrants from Kurdistan. Not far from the apartment lives a family grieving for their eldest son who was killed in Lebanon. The younger brother left behind, Yotam, forgotten by his parents, turns to Amir for support. Further down the street, Saddiq watches the house while he works at a building site. He knows that this house is the one from which his family was driven by the Jews when he was a boy, and to which his mother still has a rusty key. Despite friendships that develop and lives that become entwined, tensions among this melting pot of characters seem to be rising to the surface.This enchanting and irresistible novel offers us windows into the characters’ lives. Each comes from somewhere different but we gradually see that there’s much about them that’s the same. Homesick is a beautiful and moving story about history, love, family and the true meaning of home.

Thomas Hirschhorn


Benjamin H.D. Buchloh - 2004
    His work has been included in the world's top exhibitions (including Documenta 11, 2003, and the 48th Venice Biennale, 1999), and he was recipient of the prestigious Prix Marcel Duchamp in 2001. Hirschhorn's work, a commentary on the spectacle of late-capitalist consumerism, is characterized by collages of tinfoil, cardboard, plywood, plastic and packing tape combined with an infinite variety of debris: handwritten texts and images culled from popular magazines, miniature toy airplanes and trains, knick-knacks by the hundreds, armies of plastic 'gold' watches, effigies of Nietzsche and Princess Diana, monitors duct-taped into vitrines, and so on.Part text, part sculpture, part junk heap, and incorporating furniture, cardboard boxes, wooden frames and more, these installations reflect an extraordinarily prolific imagination. Their sheer volume and the time it takes to read and see these massive installations make them unforgettable, often quite humorous experiences. Half-sculptural, half-architectural and fully revolutionary, some of Hirschhorn's most elaborate installations, such as the multi-room Cavemanman (Barbara Gladstone Gallery, New York, 2002), transform ordinary spaces into a labyrinthine, parallel universe of hybrid forms and fascinating accumulations. A key player in the contemporary art scene today, Hirschhorn moves beyond existing genres - the readymade, the post-Conceptual, video - to offer an important, unprecedented direction for twenty-first-century art. Noted professor and art theorist Benjamin H. D. Buchloh surveys the artist's work, form its anonymous beginnings in the streets of Paris to his recent virtuoso installations, as part of a long tradition of politically motivated anti-monuments. In her Interview, Alison M. Gingeras, who has worked with Hirschhorn numerous times since 2000, discusses with the artist his beginnings as a graphic designer and his more recent dealings with the contemporary art system. Carlos Basualdo offers a full analysis of, as well as a little background on, Bataille Monument at Documenta 11, which Basualdo co-curated. Emergency Library is a unique Artist's Choice comprised of a series of oversized books attesting to Hirschhorn's love, both aesthetic and intellectual, for the the familiar, well-thumbed copies of his beloved books. Hirschhorn's emphatic Artist's Writings include project notes and personal correspondence.

Snow Angels: Snow Baby / Undercover Christmas


Brenda Novak - 2004
    Daniels

Vintage Ford


Richard Ford - 2004
    “One of the country’s best writers. . . . No one looks harder at contemporary American life, sees more, or expresses it with such hushed, deliberate care.” —San Francisco ChronicleAn accomplished practitioner of the short story and the "Babe Ruth of novelists," (Washington Post Book World) Richard Ford is the first writer to receive both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award for a single book, his 1995 novel Independence Day.Vintage Ford includes an excerpt from that novel, along with the stories “Communist,” and “Rock Springs” from his collection Rock Springs; “Reunion,” and “Calling,” from A Multitude of Sins, which won him the 2001 PEN/Malamud Award; “The Womanizer,” from Women with Men. Also included, for the first time in book form, the memoir, “My Mother, in Memory.”

Frišta


Petra Procházková - 2004
    A grandfather who is a feminist, an adopted young boy who astounds with his intellect, and Freshta, who will do anything to run away from her abusive husband.Like the other women in the family, Herra wears a burka and hides in a closet when guests arrive. She soon starts a new job with an American woman, Heidi, who has little understanding of the way women live in Afghanistan, and still less that not everybody wants to be saved by Westerners.Freshta is a stunning debut about conceptions of human faith in a war-stricken country. It is a deeply moving story that will make you laugh and cry at the same time, a universal tale of husbands and wives, lovers and friends, who all seek happiness and acceptance against the backdrop of the unexpected events playing around them.Translated by Julia Sherwood.

Forgive Us This Day


Barbara Joe Williams - 2004
    Will her ailing mother survive another heart attack? Will she lose the daughter they are trying to adopt? Is her handsome and wealthy husband having an affair?

Promise Him Anything


Carla Cassidy - 2004
    But some promises are made to be broken... For a year, Juliette Monroe and her son have been on the run from her abusive ex-husband. But when he finally tracks them down, he must confront local cop Nick Corelli, who has vowed to keep Juliette and her son safe. And when sparks fly between Juliette and Nick, they know that first they must confront the madman threatening not only their blossoming love-but also their lives...

Mixed Blessings


Cathy Marie Hake - 2004
    But when she tracked down wealthy Peter Hallock— the man who had her biological son— she was surprised to find another single parent, and one eager to love not just his own child, but hers, as well.Even as they struggled to keep their children close despite their far-flung homes, Peter was intrigued by Marie’ s inner strength and deep faith. He prevailed on her to accept a marriage of convenience for the children’ s sake, then faced the challenge of convincing her that despite the circumstances, theirs was a marriage truly made in heaven.

Cover Me


Stephanie Bond - 2004
    Hunky outdoorsman Sam Somebody from the bar was happy to oblige, and girl, it was a night to remember. I thought I’d never see him again, so imagine my surprise when he was the guest of my next morning editorial meeting—as the cover story. Can you say awkward?(Here’s where things get weird.) When my boss became convinced our magazine had fallen under a “cover curse,” she sent me to Nowheresville, USA to man-sit Sam under the cover of a writing assignment. I’m trying to keep a professional distance, but he’s wearing me down. And since I’ve never been outside the city, my unmatched clumsiness might put Sam in more danger than anything else… meanwhile, I’m the one in real danger—of losing my heart.(Note: This story was originally released in 2004; Stephanie has updated and revamped the story for re-release.)

Fever


Kimberly Dean - 2004
    Uncontrolled desire. And a man to slake her every need. Delia Jenkins is distressed when a raging fever forces her to leave work on the day before a big bid. She's brand new on the job, but her delirium has pushed her to the point where she can't think straight. She goes home to recuperate, but the heat inside her only builds. That night, a man shows up at her apartment to care for her. He's concerned about her well-being, but the fervor has reached a ravenous pitch. There's only one way to douse the flames. It's only after the fever breaks that Delia realizes her work situation has gotten hotter than ever before.

Pursuit of a Dream (Victory Lane: The Chronicles)


Robert Pruneda - 2004
    He is determined to live that dream no matter what, but he struggles with the fact that no one in his family has ever been involved in auto racing. Caleb's brother is quick to point that out, and even their father, while loving and supportive, doesn't take Caleb's aspiration seriously at first...until he sees his son win his first go-kart race. As Caleb grows older his desire to win clouds his focus and judgment, and he struggles with the realization that living his dream is going to require a lot more patience, discipline, and sacrifice than he had anticipated. Will Caleb succeed in his Pursuit of a Dream or will he let adversity and discouragement pave the way for failure? Readers will find that Pursuit of a Dream has much more to offer than auto racing. It is a story about the strength of family, love, perseverance, and never giving up on your dreams. Pursue your dreams...and never look back.

The Grief of Strangers


Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - 2004
    

Chicago's Mansions


John Graf - 2004
    Although many people are familiar with the city's skyscrapers and public buildings, they often overlook or are unaware of Chicago's mansions that are located throughout the city. These mansions represent Chicago's past and its future, and it can even be said that they are the very embodiment of Chicago and its architecture. These fashionable residences were built to make a statement, and what better way to have done this than to employ the leading architects of the time to design them. These architects included men such as Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Henry Hobson Richardson, Daniel Burnham, and John Wellborn Root. While the city's mansions are significant because of who built them, they are just as important because of who lived in them. Many of these mansions were built for Chicago's elite businessmen and captains of industry-men who represented old money, new money and big money. Just as important were the families of these men and the other residents who came to live in these mansions-for they left a legacy of their own that contributed to the city's history.

Man in Control / Thorn's Challenge


Diana Palmer - 2004
    

Hannah And Martin


Kate Fodor - 2004
    In Germany in the 1920s, Heidegger and Arendt have a tumultuous love affair while he is a professor and she is his admiring student. But as the National Socialists come to power, Heidegger uses his fame and brilliance to help further the goals of the party. After the devastation of World War II, Arendt, who has fled to America and become a respected public figure in her own right, returns to Germany and visits Heidegger at the home he shares with his wife. There she struggles to come to terms with his involvement with the Nazis and to understand what he still means to her.

The Seeker of Well-Being


Indrajit Garai - 2004
    Numerous case studies on people who have changed their lives simply by overcoming their inner resistance. We all want to attain excellence in what we do, but the first resistance comes from within us. We prevent ourselves from doing our best, from approaching our inner richness, and from feeling sincerely well within. The key to our durable well-being is by aligning accordance with our self, by overcoming our internal resistance, and by acting in synergy with our deepest values. But, how? Only our original solution, which originates from within us, can provide that. This book, based on twelve years of client work, reveals why ‘accordance with self’ is the prerequisite for a deep and durable well-being. Why only our original solution can do this, and how we can easily construct this solution from inside out. And attain our inherent potential, by aligning with ourselves. Others have done this with grace; their results endure. You can do it too. The author: Indrajit Garai, an American citizen now, was born in India in 1965. After getting his Bachelors from Indian Institute of Technology and a Masters from Harvard, he worked as Corporate Strategy Consultant and Investment Banker in America, Spain, and England, while doing parallel studies on Ayurveda (ancient medicine of India) and clinical yoga, for stress management. In 2001, after the birth of his daughter, he moved to Paris and opened his private practice of stress management.

Bright Hunger


Mark Irwin - 2004
    His poetry is propelled by charged rhythms and a haunting music. “An impeccable craftsman, Mark Irwin writes with a lyrical urgency that somehow combines the brilliance of Valery and the natural ease of observation of William Carlos Williams.” —David St. JohnMark Irwin is the author of four previous collections of poetry, two of them with BOA. Among his literary awards are National Endowment for the Arts and Ohio Art Council Fellowships, two Push-cart Prizes, the James Wright Poetry Award and a Fulbright Fellow-ship to Romania. He lives with his family in Denver, Colorado, and spends a part of each year on a wilderness ranch in the San Luis Valley.

Photographs


Gabriel Orozco - 2004
    His art has taken the form of sculpture, installations, drawing, photography, and video. Orozco photographs things as he finds them, "self-arranged" on the streets, or in found situations in which he has gently intervened. Previous publications of his work have highlighted the interconnectedness between the various aspects of his work, or have focused solely on his sculptures or videos. This book is the first ever to focus solely on his photographs, with an accompanying introductory text and biographical material on the artist. It clarifies the distinction between the photographs that Orozco considers as independent artworks and the often equally beautiful photographs which he regards as documentation of sculptures or performances pieces, wherein the latter are the actual artwork.

It's Magic


Daryn Cross - 2004
    Kasey Bell, feminist writer, and Guy McLane, radio's famous chauvinistic psychiatrist, are his targets. Even with carefully executed plans, the road to true love is strewn with mishaps, mirth and money-hungry nighttime talk show hosts. Will Kasey and Guy risk their reputations by exposing secrets buried beneath layers of shame and self-doubt for a desperately needed big money pay-off? Or, will they claim what has evaded them their entire lives-a love that lasts forever?

Snowboard Champ


Matt Christopher - 2004
    While his mother is working overseas, Matt Harper is living temporarily with his uncle in Dragon Valley, where he practices his snowboard technique and contends with a local bully.

Ten Weird Things


Matthew Haldeman-Time - 2004
    Shana licks pizza. Eric's new roommate David may be the most normal thing in his life.--------Approx. word count: 11,200 wordsAuthor's rating: NC-17

The People's Business: Controlling Corporations and Restoring Democracy


Lee Drutman - 2004
    A lively and engaging mandate to fight back against corporate dominance, The People's Business examines the very nature of corporate power, presenting a range of strategies to curtail it, and explaining how ordinary people can restore citizen control. Bringing together a coalition of leading authors, activists, scholars, and professionals, this book serves as a vital, clearheaded plan for strengthening individual rights, transforming corporations into engines of public prosperity, and creating a sustainable, life-respecting society where the people have the power. The book features an introduction by Ralph Nader.

All Messed Up: Unpredictable Graphics


Anna Gerber - 2004
    In aiming for flawless work, things often go wrong. Sometimes these mistakes and accidents end up working to the designer's advantage. To realize this is to override long-standing preconceptions that define such occurrences as fundamentally wrong. All Messed Up creates a space for work in which mistakes, accidents and the unpredictable are celebrated. Featuring work by established and emerging graphic designers from around the world, the book illustrates how embracing and even seeking out accidents can create ground-breaking work. The book is divided into three sections: Mistakes (where something has gone wrong, such as a printer error); Chance (where chance occurrences or found objects are incorporated into a piece of work); and System (where a system is created to actively encourage unpredictability). It ends with a series of interviews with five leading figures: Ian Anderson, Stefan Sagmeister, Paul Elliman, Stuart Bailey and April Greiman.

One Perfect Man


Lynda Sandoval - 2004
    But after he made an offer she couldn't refuse, Miss Independence learned that passionate love could smolder but not smother.COULD IT LEAD TO A LIFETIME OF MORE?Tomas Garza needed Erica's help turning his daughter Hope's quincea�era into the perfect night. And though he was immediately drawn to Erica, Tomas wouldn't risk having his daughter's heart broken -- or his own -- by getting involved with a woman who swore home and hearth were not for her. Still, he found Erica irresistible. Could he convince this career woman to turn in her single status for the family plan?