Best of
Illness

2019

Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life


Mallory Smith - 2019
    Despite the daily challenges of endless medical treatments and a deep understanding that she'd never lead a normal life, Mallory was determined to "live happy," a mantra she followed until her death. Mallory worked hard to make the most out of the limited time she had, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University, becoming a cystic fibrosis advocate well-known in the CF community, and embarking on a career as a professional writer. Along the way, she cultivated countless intimate friendships and ultimately found love.An eloquent writer, Mallory recorded her thoughts and observations for more than ten years about struggles and feelings too personal to share during her life, leaving instructions for her mother to publish her work posthumously. She hoped that her writing would offer insight to those living with, or loving someone with, chronic illness.What emerges is a powerful and inspiring portrait of a brave young woman who did not allow herself to be defined by disease. Her words offer comfort and hope to readers, even as she herself was facing death. Salt in My Soul is a beautifully crafted, intimate, and poignant tribute to a short life well lived--and a call for all of us to embrace our own lives as fully as possible.

Underneath the Sycamore Tree


B. Celeste - 2019
    Cared for. Loathed. And … loved.⁣ Somewhere along the way, I’d found solace in the boy with brooding eyes.⁣ But everything happens in stages.⁣ And nothing good ever lasts.⁣

One Last Summer


Victoria Connelly - 2019
    Is it enough to rekindle the friendship they once shared? Harriet Greenleaf dreams of spending the summer in a beautiful ancient priory on the Somerset coast with her two best friends—but her dream is bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s a chance to reconnect three lives that have drifted apart; on the other, she has a devastating secret to share that will change everything between them forever.First to arrive is Audrey—the workaholic who’s heading for a heart attack unless she slows down and makes time for herself. Then Lisa, the happy-go-lucky flirt who’s always struggled to commit to anyone—or anything. Ever the optimist, can Harriet remind them of the joy in their lives and the importance of celebrating good friendship before it’s gone?Through the highs and lows of a long, glorious summer, these three women will rediscover what it means to be there for each other—before they face the hardest of goodbyes.

Edie Browne’s Cottage by the Sea


Jane Linfoot - 2019
    But when she falls head over champagne bucket while celebrating her successful landing, her life is changed in an instant.  But starting over has its benefits, and as Edie relearns the basics under the watchful eye of her Aunty Josie and an entire Cornish village of new friends and neighbours, she finds love and joy she never could have imagined in the unlikeliest of places…

Every Last Drop


Sarah Robinson - 2019
    The first contemporary women's fiction novel by bestselling romance author Sarah Robinson sure to break your heart and test your limits as the characters dive into taboo topics that make you reconsider everything you once knew. Marry the love of my life.Become a mother.Write a book.Number one was complete. I was well on my way to checking off goals two and three, before a cancer diagnosis derailed my plans.A story meant to chronicle the journey of impending motherhood with wit, became a brutally honest memoir of living life to the fullest.Make every breath count.When finally confronted with the knowledge the cancer is terminal, I search for a way to accomplish all the things I wanted to do within my lifetime… when I don’t have a lifetime left.Every Last Drop is the heartfelt, unflinching, and original story of how when faced with the hardest truth, we finally learn how far we will go to discover who we are before it’s too late.

Ten Hours


Melissa Toppen - 2019
    And all I wanted was more.More seconds.More minutes.More hours.More him.Ten hours…Such a small, insignificant amount of time.Yet those ten hours changed everything.

More to the Story


Hena Khan - 2019
    The problem is her editor-in-chief keeps shooting down her article ideas. Jameela’s assigned to write about the new boy in school, who has a cool British accent but doesn’t share much, and wonders how she’ll make his story gripping enough to enter into a national media contest. Jameela, along with her three sisters, is devastated when their father needs to take a job overseas, away from their cozy Georgia home for six months. Missing him makes Jameela determined to write an epic article—one to make her dad extra proud. But when her younger sister gets seriously ill, Jameela’s world turns upside down. And as her hunger for fame looks like it might cost her a blossoming friendship, Jameela questions what matters most, and whether she’s cut out to be a journalist at all...

The World I Fell Out Of


Melanie Reid - 2019
    She was 52.Paralysed from the top of her chest down, she was to spend almost a full year in hospital, determinedly working towards gaining as much movement in her limbs as possible, and learning to navigate her way through a world that had previously been invisible to her.As a journalist Melanie had always turned to words and now, on a spinal ward peopled by an extraordinary array of individuals who were similarly at sea, she decided that writing would be her life-line. The World I Fell Out Of is an account of that year, and of those that followed. It is the untold ‘back story’ behind Melanie’s award-winning ‘Spinal Column’ in The Times Magazine and a testament to ‘the art of getting on with it’.Unflinchingly honest and beautifully observed, this is a memoir about the joy – and the risks – of riding horses, the complicated nature of heroism, the bonds of family and the comfort of strangers. Above all, The World I Fell Out Of is a reminder that at any moment the life we know can be turned upside down – and a plea to start appreciating what we have while we have it.

The Space We're In


Katya Balen - 2019
    His brother Max is five. Max only eats foods that are beige or white, hates baths, and if he has to wear a t-shirt that isn't gray with yellow stripes he melts down down down. Frank longs for the brother he was promised by his parents before Max was born--someone who was supposed to be his biggest fan, so he could be the best brother in the world. Instead, Frank has trouble navigating Max's behavior and their relationship. But when tragedy strikes, Frank finds a way to try and repair their fractured family and in doing so learns to love Max for who he is. In her debut novel, Katya Balen uses her knowledge of autism and experience working with autistic people to create an intriguing and intense yet always respectful family story.For readers of Counting by 7s and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

The Undying


Anne Boyer - 2019
    For a single mother living paycheck to paycheck who had always been the caregiver rather than the one needing care, the catastrophic illness was both a crisis and an initiation into new ideas about mortality and the gendered politics of illness.A twenty-first-century Illness as Metaphor, as well as a harrowing memoir of survival, The Undying explores the experience of illness as mediated by digital screens, weaving in ancient Roman dream diarists, cancer hoaxers and fetishists, cancer vloggers, corporate lies, John Donne, pro-pain ”dolorists,” the ecological costs of chemotherapy, and the many little murders of capitalism. It excoriates the pharmaceutical industry and the bland hypocrisies of ”pink ribbon culture” while also diving into the long literary line of women writing about their own illnesses and ongoing deaths: Audre Lorde, Kathy Acker, Susan Sontag, and others.A genre-bending memoir in the tradition of The Argonauts, The Undying will break your heart, make you angry enough to spit, and show you contemporary America as a thing both desperately ill and occasionally, perversely glorious.

Nobody


Tiana Laveen - 2019
     Blurb: Kane Westbrook has fallen from grace... Born from a wealthy, Christian family and living his life in Texas, the handsome, 6’5” former college football star and accomplished automotive engineer endured an unthinkable catastrophe, one that changed his life forever. He now isolates himself from the outside world, creating a cocoon of a false sense of comfort. Jessica Franco is as level headed and calm as they come. She’s worked for years at the United States Postal Service, owns her own home and shares her space with a dear friend who can’t seem to get her own life together. Despite having a rather difficult childhood and being viewed as the ‘not so pretty one’ of her family and friends, she has not only survived, but thrived. Able to often see the silver lining in other’s misfortunes, she covertly rarely can see them for herself. Everyone loves Jessica, and though she appears well adjusted and centered, there are secrets and abundant pain she possesses deep inside, the kind of emotions that tear her apart in more ways than one. Suffering from always being the bride’s maid and never the bride, Jessica’s life begs the question, “Is beauty really only skin deep?” Kane and Jessica meet in the most simplest of ways but their complicated lives intertwine. A bond of understanding and intrigue is formed that neither expected, yet, it’s too amazing to release. Fate came knocking, and they answered. The unexpected package of love was Signed. Sealed and Delivered. Will Kane be able to escape the prison of his own mind and follow his heart to make a life with Jessica? Will Jessica be able to open herself up like the flower she is, be vulnerable enough to accept Kane’s love and most of all, believe that she is deserving to receive it? Read, “Nobody,” to find out!

Forget the Stars


Kelsey Kingsley - 2019
    At thirty, he never thought he'd still be unmarried and living with his parents. And with the added stress of his poor health, he's convinced the only thing within his control is the success he's found as a rock star.After reconnecting with his childhood best friend, Chad sets into motion a new plan to regain control over his happiness, and things start looking up. But when he finds himself diagnosed with a potentially debilitating chronic illness, he begins to wonder...Is this as good as it's going to get? Or is it at all possible for a guy like him to get everything he's ever wished for?

The Prince's Bewildered Bride


Evangeline Kelly - 2019
    Too bad she couldn’t remember the wedding…or anything else. Will her memories return in time to save her marriage or was it doomed from the beginning? When Prince Edward of Calais received a note implicating his wife in an affair, he was furious. He’d only been married to Annette for three weeks, but she’d distanced herself from him almost as soon as they returned from their honeymoon. Annette woke up disoriented, not knowing who she was or what happened to her. To make matters worse, someone shot her aunt and might be after her as well. Her relationship with Prince Edward seemed strained at best. After receiving a couple of threatening notes, she didn’t know who she could trust. She knew she was drawn to Edward—they clearly had chemistry—but he kept her at arm’s distance. He was definitely hiding something. Edward and Annette couldn’t fight the pull they had to each other, but Edward had to decide if he could forgive Annette, and she had to determine if she could trust him. In a world where everything was not as it seemed, will love prevail or will their marriage go down in a ball of flames? This is a Christian romance with a themes of redemption and Bible references.

Keep Tahoe Blue


Nicole Pyland - 2019
    She’d just watched her ex-girlfriend meet the woman of her dreams. Her broken heart needed a break from it all, and Lake Tahoe was calling her name.Reese Lee has a secret. Only her twin sister knows the one thing Reese hasn’t even told the closest people around her. When she meets Kellan at a fun weekend game of beach football, she knows there’s something interesting about the tourist. She’s never had a problem wining, dining, and sometimes bedding the tourists that strolled into the lake town. But with Kellan, she might just see the possibility of more.Kellan is determined to address the loneliness in her heart. Reese is determined to keep her secret for fear it would change the way people see her. As the two women try to navigate their attraction, they each have to give up something their holding onto that could prevent them from finding what they’ve both been looking for all along. Recommended order of reading the books in the series: Checking the Right Box (San Francisco Series Book #1) Keep Tahoe Blue (Tahoe Series Book #1) Macon's Heart (San Francisco Series Book #2)

Unraveled


Aubrey Bondurant - 2019
    To destroy.I thought I had it all with my well-respected job, Hollywood boyfriend, and glamorous lifestyle. Until the truth revealed a different story. In one day, after a single word, my carefully constructed life was obliterated.But it’s only the beginning of my spiral. There’s much further to fall.Then I meet him. He's the perfect man at the most imperfect time. It's only meant to be a one night stand. A last fling before my new reality sets in. But he has different ideas. Because he doesn’t know the truth. Once he finds out, I'm convinced he’ll realize this is too much for a new relationship. He’s sure to cut and run. It's for the best really. After all, how can I possibly fall in love when I’m falling apart?

Wrapped in Ink


Carrie Ann Ryan - 2019
    But when an accident lands him in the ER, Liam meets someone that might just be the distraction he needs.Arden Brady has spent her life in and out of hospitals. But according to the world, she doesn’t look sick. She’s lost jobs and friends because they don’t see beneath the surface, but she’s learned to rely on her family and herself to keep going. And then she meets Liam.With two sets of overprotective siblings and a puppy that can't help but get into everything, Liam and Arden might just fall harder than either one ever expected.

Solving for M


Jennifer Swender - 2019
    Separated from old friends and starting new classes, Mika is far from her comfort zone. And math class is the most confusing of all, especially when her teacher Mr. Vann assigns math journals. Art in math? Who's ever heard of such a thing?But when challenges arise at home, Mika realizes there are no easy answers. Maybe, with some help from friends, family, and one unique teacher, a math journal can help her work out problems, and not just the math ones. Debut author Jennifer Swender delivers poignant prose and illustrator Jennifer Naalchigar brings Mika's journal to life in this perfect equation of honesty plus hope that adds up to a heartwarming coming-of-age story.

The Girl in the Painting


Renita D'Silva - 2019
    She fingers the letter in her pocket. She thinks of the painting that was created beside the stream. A painting of a girl, with sadness in her eyes. Emma’s beloved grandmother, Margaret, is dying, and she has one last wish before she says goodbye. When she gives Emma a mysterious painting and the deeds to a house in India, Emma is shocked. Margaret has rarely spoken of a link to India before – she has been unwilling to ever speak of her past at all. But now Margaret has a request for her granddaughter: Find Archana. Margaret asks Emma to give Archana the painting and – most important of all – to tell her that she forgives her. With her grandmother on her deathbed, Emma travels deep into the heart of the Indian hills in search of answers, to a crumbling house overgrown with vines. And when she finds Archana, the secret Margaret has been keeping for over seventy years will finally be revealed – the story of a day spent painting by a stream full of water lilies, where a betrayal tore three lives apart forever…

Five Steps to Happy


Ella Dove - 2019
     When struggling actress Heidi has a life-changing accident aged 32, her world falls apart. Stuck in hospital and unable to walk, her only companion is Maud, the elderly lady in the bed next to hers. Heidi misses her flatmate, her life, her freedom - surely 32 is too young to be an amputee?But when Maud's aloof but attractive grandson Jack pays a visit to the ward, Heidi realises that her life isn't over just because it's different. It might not look like the life she dreamed of, but it's the one she's got - and there's a lot she still wants to tick off her bucket list. With Jack at her side, will Heidi take the first step back to happiness? Or is there one more surprise still in store...? A feel-good read based on the inspiring true story of journalist Ella Dove. Sometimes all it takes is one small step...

Cursed


Karol Ruth Silverstein - 2019
    Her body hurts constantly, her family’s a mess and the boy she’s crushing on seems completely clueless. The best coping mechanisms she can come up with are cursing and cutting school. But when her truancy is discovered she must struggle to catch up in school to avoid a far worse horror: repeating ninth grade.

Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days


Andrea Wilson Woods - 2019
    Facing the fight of her life, Adrienne discovered just how much she wants to live. In Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days, Andrea Wilson Woods chronicles her sister's remarkable life, from the time she was born to the day she dies at age fifteen. Written like a journal, Andrea takes the reader inside her and Adrienne's journey explaining how she gained custody of Adrienne from their mother and how the sisters' relationship evolved over time. Adrienne's courageous spirit shines through as she squeezes more life into 147 days than most people do in a lifetime. From meeting Jay Leno to spending the day with Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction, Adrienne makes every moment count.As she lay dying, Adrienne teaches Andrea how to live.

Sing it, Sam


Jennifer Ryder - 2019
    But how can Jane write the perfect romance when she’s never experienced love?After a lengthy stay in hospital, budding singer and songwriter Sam Marshall ends up as a resident in Willow Creek Nursing Home. Jane soon becomes his guiding light. But how can he be a man for her when he relies on so many others day-to-day?Will Sam turn out to be the perfect muse to help Jane write her epic romance? Will Jane be the one to teach Sam how to truly live? Does love truly know no barriers?Coming February 2019.

Love You Truly


Susan L. Tuttle - 2019
    But when his mother’s popularity declines and she falls into a depression, he offers himself up as the next bachelor on a reality show, hoping to reignite interest in her career while creating a way for them to finally connect.After her fiancé dumps her for her best friend, aspiring photographer Harlow Tucker is done with romance—until her beloved, disabled sister requests her aid to start a nonprofit. Harlow agrees to do whatever is needed to raise funds, even reluctantly costarring on a dating show with a notorious womanizer who distrusts anyone behind a lens.As Blake and Harlow navigate the superficiality of a reality show, their preconceived notions of love are challenged. Deciding to trust each other feels like the ultimate risk, but taking that chance could lead to a love truly picture-perfect, worth both of their hearts.

If Walls Could Talk


FINN - 2019
    There is no denying that the walls he has put up between himself and other people are the cause of this but being gay hasn’t helped either. However, being an outsider isn’t his only problem.Louis has always tried to see the light, even in the darkest times, but with each passing day, it gets harder. He becomes more closed off, not letting the light reach him.But sometimes a voice is all we need to hear.As the soft voice of a caring boy slips through his bedroom wall, Louis finds himself seeing little bits of that light again. But with it, Louis notices the darkness from the past, that he tried to move on from, starts to become illuminated.Will this mystery boy help Louis bring down his walls, or will the past continue to haunt him?

Kiss Me Again


Garrett Leigh - 2019
    He works alone, and lives alone, and it doesn’t occur to him to want anything else until a life-changing accident lands him in hospital. Then a glimpse of the beautiful boy in the opposite bed changes everything. Ludo Giordano is trapped on the ward with a bunch of old men. His mind plays tricks on him, keeping him awake. Then late one night, a new face brings a welcome distraction. Their unlikely friendship is addictive. And, like most things in Ludo’s life, temporary. Back in the real world, Aidan’s monochrome existence is no longer enough. He craves the colour Ludo brought him, and when a chance meeting brings them back together, before long, they’re inseparable again. But bliss comes with complications. Aidan is on the road to recovery, but Ludo has been unwell his entire life, and that’s not going to change. Aidan can kiss him as much as he likes, but if he can’t help Ludo when he needs him most, they don’t stand a chance.

MindF*ck


Danyell A. Wallace - 2019
    Life wasn't good. It was great. Until a family tragedy strikes and shatters Clayton's world as he knows it, along with his memory. As Clayton struggles to put the pieces of his life back together, his beautiful, brown-skinned guardian angel with the wavy hair and soulful eyes is with him the entire way. But who is she? He may not know her name, but her face and the way she fills his heart are definitely unforgettable. Find out what happens when life as you know it is turned inside out and you’re forced to put the pieces back together, one memory at a time. Welcome to MindF*ck! *This book contains scenes involving suicide, strong sexual themes and content not suitable for persons under the age of 18. MindF*ck is book one of a series and can be read as a standalone.*

Cloud Boy


Marcia Williams - 2019
    Ever since they were born two days apart they’ve been partners in cloud-spotting, sweet-eating and treehouse-building. But when Harry is taken to hospital for headaches that won’t go away, he needs Angie more than ever. Because when things fall apart, only a best friend can stitch them back together. Told through Angie's lively diary, this is a bittersweet story about friendship and growing up.

Private Parts; How To Really Live With Endometriosis


Eleanor Thom - 2019
    It takes an average of seven and a half years to get a diagnosis in the UK and affects sufferers' capacity to work, their fertility and their ability to enjoy sex.What Eleanor Thom can tell you about endometriosis:You are so much more than the sum of your private parts.Part memoir, part guide book and part survival guide, Private Parts retraces Eleanor's own journey with endometriosis, offering readers practical, down-to-earth and friendly advice covering everything from what actually happens in an internal exam, to finding the right specialist for you, the perfect post-op wardrobe and to why you should look to Frida Kahlo for inspiration in your darkest moments.Written for those looking to live well with their endometriosis and for those who are looking for help to understand the disease and how it affects those with it, Private Parts is a call to action for people to speak up about an illness which is still so misunderstood.Will feature exclusive interviews with Hilary Mantel and Lena Dunham.

How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear?


Vanessa Bayer - 2019
    The actor Vanessa Bayer experienced this firsthand when she was treated for childhood leukemia. In her first children's book, she offers gentle, reassuring advice that people of all ages will appreciate.

Healing Choice


Susi Hawke - 2019
    He knows he doesn’t have much time left so he’s using what little he does have by using his enhanced sense of smell to detect cancer in humans. If he can save just one life with early detection by acting as a cancer-sniffing dog, it will be mean he’s lived a life well spent… albeit shorter than it should’ve been. No majicks or tricks, nor cheat or spell… conceal you’re Fae and hide it well. Tobias of the Coppersmith Clan is gobsmacked when a long-forgotten portal to the human realm appears in his bedchamber. What else can he do but cross through and see what awaits him on the other side? He finds the Legacy Warriors and a Fae prince waiting to greet him. When they offer him a miraculous opportunity to find his heartsong, Tobias isn’t about to turn them down. You can reveal all after love’s true kiss. Tobias is stunned to discover his human heartsong is dying. Thankfully, the way to save him is to offer him the grandest adventure of all—one that involves immortal life, fated love, and a chance at a forever family in the Fae realm. The only problem is… before he can save his life, he first has to get Caleb to fall in love with him without using majicks or tricks. This is the first in a new series that is the fifth in a shared world that began with the Northern Lodge Pack. This 42k mpreg novel contains a lot of magic, fluffy feels, and adorable, chittering fairy stalkers. Intended for readers 18+. Grab a tissue and expect to tear up a couple times before you cry happy tears. What else can you expect from Susi Hawke? Note: Each of the series stand alone, but if you want to know where it began, this is the order of the series contained in this World: Northern Lodge Pack Northern Pines Den The Blood Legacy Chronicles Legacy Warriors Choose Your Fate

Like Falling Through a Cloud: A Lyrical Memoir


Eugenia Zukerman - 2019
    Touching, honest, and fearlessly heartfelt, Like Falling Through a Cloud recounts Zukerman’s discovery, consultations, and diagnosis, all while navigating the death of her 103-year-old mother, a performance at the Kennedy Center, and the consolidation of her life via a full-time move to upstate New York. As she finds strength in family love, self-examination, and the enduring power of creating music, Zukerman teaches us the importance of living in the now, while accepting that what comes next may remain a mystery.

Fatechanger: Penny Lost


L.M. Poplin - 2019
    But when Penn is robbed, and the pickpockets kidnap the head newsboy, she finds herself stuck in the middle of a dangerous rivalry, questioning her loyalties to either side and to herself.After a violent fistfight with a fellow pickpocket, Penn incurs a life-threatening infection. As her supposed enemy nurses her back to health—discovering she’s a girl and befriending her in the process—Penn realizes that someone else must have betrayed her. Her ensuing investigation reveals not only the truth of her betrayer’s identity but also her own.

Alien Awakening


Regine Abel - 2019
    The luckier patients are released to resume their normal lives, but with growing signs of mutation in her body, Malaika already knows she won’t be going home. What will become of her? Who is that mysterious hooded man with the glowing eyes? And why does she feel so strongly drawn to him?

Transplanted: My Cystic Fibrosis Double-Lung Transplant Story


Allison Watson - 2019
    That's all. She had no idea how much time had passed since she had seen her family. When she tried to focus, her vision was blurry, and when she tried to wave someone down, she became so exhausted she thought she was dying. Hours later, when Watson was able to communicate, she asked a nurse if the news was good or bad. "It's good news," the nurse replied. "You had your lung transplant four days ago." About 4,100 people in Canada have cystic fibrosis, and many are living longer today, thanks, in part, to transplants. CF mainly affects the digestive system and lungs, and there is no cure. In this candid memoir, Watson describes living with the disease and her life-altering surgery in 2014. Watson and her sister, Amy, both grew up with CF, and Allison had always believed that Amy would be the one to get a transplant first. The decision to undergo surgery was not easy. Nor was the road to full recovery. In this book, Watson, who cycled across Canada with her brother in 2008 to raise awareness of CF, describes her journey.

The Tide


Clare Helen Welsh - 2019
    But sometimes, its difficult, because Grandpa has become forgetful. Grandpa's memories are like the tide, Mommy explains. Sometimes, they're near and full of life. Other times, they're distant and quiet. The Tide is a story about families, laughter, and how we can help a loved one with dementia live well.

Viral: The Fight Against AIDS in America


Ann Bausum - 2019
    Its earliest victims were mostly gay men, some of the most marginalized people in the country; at its peak in America, it killed tens of thousands of people. The losses were staggering, the science frightening, and the government's inaction unforgivable. The AIDS Crisis fundamentally changed the fabric of the United States.Viral presents the history of the AIDS crisis through the lens of the brave victims and activists who demanded action and literally fought for their lives. This compassionate but unflinching text explores everything from the disease's origins and how it spread to the activism it inspired and how the world confronts HIV and AIDS today.

Sensitive


Allayne L. Webster - 2019
    She wants to be called SJ now. She’s going to be cool and mysterious. But above all, she’s going to pretend to be healthy.SJ suffers from chronic eczema and allergies – she’s sick of doctors’ appointments and tests, sick of itchiness and pain, sick of looking different, feeling different. All SJ wants is to be ‘normal’. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her illness a secret. After all, would new friend Livvy or cute boy Sam still want to hang out with her if they knew the truth?

A Reason to Hope: A Pride & Prejudice Novella


Christie Capps - 2019
    Fitzwilliam Darcy has reason to believe he does not have long to live. Knowing he needs an heir, he offers marriage to the only lady who has caught his eye and held his interest: Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Once exposed to the gentleman’s vulnerability, Elizabeth realizes she may have misjudged him. When he extends to her the opportunity of eventually becoming an independent woman, she accepts his unexpected offer to wed. Both vow to feel only gratitude toward the other. The last thing either wants is to suffer the heartbreak of falling in love when their future is uncertain. As the couple explore treatment options and listen to sound advice, they are drawn into a love that will last through the ages. Will Darcy and Elizabeth overcome all odds to have their happily-ever-after? (Of course! I always write happy endings.) This 20,000-word angst-filled Regency variation (appropriate for all ages) by bestselling author Christie Capps can be read in an hour or two.

Strength


Jo Raven - 2019
    Her name’s Sophie and she’s the love of my life.She doesn’t know that. I’ve never told her, nor given her any clues. I’ve been careful. I’ve been diligent. I’ve been the biggest asshole the world has seen.To her. And to everyone.But after I fell sick, she came back and she’s still here. I don’t know why, if it means anything, what she wants from me.I know I want everything from her but I can’t ask for it.Because I fucked up, I’m probably dying, and it’s too late for second chances… right?This short novel is a standalone story in the Wild Men world (companion to Dark Child), and will release in October as part of the Cards of Love 2018 series.The Strength card is part of the major Arcana.

Paper Dreams


K.J. Lewis - 2019
    With every tick of the clock, my options wane. Winning a lunch meeting with the CEO was supposed to be the answer to all of my problems. After all, Nixon Ballard is known for taking a bit of money and turning it into a lot. But his easy dismissal of my financial struggle took what I hoped would be a quick solution and turned it into my only option. An option to provide for those who matter most. An option that lays everything on the line. This was meant to be a sacrifice, but quickly became the escape I really need.The old adage is true... time is money. Which makes it one of my most precious commodities. Starting my company ten years ago, I quickly understood that success is garnered from milking every moment of the one thousand four hundred and forty minutes each day has to offer. Every meeting, conference call, and agenda item is carefully orchestrated like an elaborate meal. Each course perfectly timed and curated, building to the grand dessert- my weekly scheduled evening with a hired beauty. Ninety minutes with no expectations, other than mutual pleasure. Ninety minutes where no one knows who I am. Today was meant to be the same. Until it wasn’t. Until Natalie.

Where Love Grows


Jay Northcote - 2019
     Stephen’s home, deep in the heart of the Welsh valleys, suits his reclusive nature. However, as he recovers from illness, he’s struggling to manage alone. As nature reclaims the land he’s poured his heart into cultivating, he becomes increasingly unhappy. His only outlet is his blog, where he documents the decline of the garden that had been his pride and joy. Luke is more used to a concrete jungle. He was a high-flyer, living and working in London, until addiction sent him into free fall. Now on the road to recovery, he still wants to make some changes, but he’s unsure where to find the purpose and fulfilment he craves. A mutual acquaintance suggests Luke visits Stephen to help him out for a while, and a seed of hope is planted. From prickly beginnings, shoots of friendship emerge, blossoming into a deeper connection when they act on their mutual attraction. This was only ever supposed to be a temporary arrangement, and soon Stephen will be able to manage on his own again. But both men need each other in ways they’re afraid to admit. If their love is going to last for more than one season, they’ll need to find the courage to be honest. This book is a standalone read with a satisfying happy ending.

Fortune's Angel (Fates Aligned, #2)


Christi Whitson - 2019
    I knew better. I was practically her boss and way too old for her. But that didn't stop me from following her home, and when I discovered her secret, I was desperate to help. The more I learned about my angel, the harder I fell, and now there's nothing I wouldn't do to make her mine, to keep her safe... No matter what danger lurks in the shadows.CharlotteIt was hard to remember the last time anything had gone right for me. I was homeless, working myself into an early grave, and virtually alone in the world. But everything changed when Eli Brighton entered my life. Our connection was undeniable. Our chemistry, inescapable. He brought down my walls with a single touch, and I'm dangerously close to giving him my heart. But he's a millionaire, and I live in my car. How can I be his angel if he's the one saving me?Author's Note:Fortune's Angel is a stand-alone novel with a guaranteed HEA. Slight trigger warning for brief sexual violence. Be prepared for cavity inducing sweetness, a touch of drama, and a sexy millionaire with a bit of a hero complex.The Fates Aligned series can be read in any order, but to avoid spoilers, you'll want to start with Chance Encounter.

Ozzy


Rowan Massey - 2019
    Now there’s no one left who isn’t a user. As a result, civilization is falling to its knees. The skies are polluted, having a job puts you in the minority, and public services like health care and police protection are for the rich.In a town called Emporium, Ozzy works as a rent boy in a seedy club. When Jace, an overdosing teenager, is dropped at his feet, Ozzy sees an opportunity. His cruel pimp and mayor will let him cross the guarded borders of town and escape to a better life if Ozzy finds his own replacement. Jace, although he’s disabled, seems like a candidate.But things won’t be that simple. Jace is sick and won’t last long. Under increasing pressure to save himself from his pimp, Ozzy races to save the life of the guy he’s not supposed to be falling for.

The Space Between Time


Charlie Laidlaw - 2019
    She's the daughter of a beautiful and loving mother, and her father is one of the most famous film actors of his generation. She's also the granddaughter of a rather eccentric and obscure Italian astrophysicist.But as her seemingly charmed life begins to unravel, and Emma experiences love and tragedy, she ultimately finds solace in her once-derided grandfather's Theorem on the universe.The Space Between Time is humorous and poignant and offers the metaphor that we are all connected, even to those we have loved and not quite lost.

There's Something Going On Upstairs: Learning to Laugh My Way through a Cancerous Brain Tumor, One Chemo Cycle at a Time


Kelly Ann Rodenberg - 2019
    However, the neurologist examining her suspected there was “something going on upstairs,” and brain scans revealed the existence of a golf ball-sized, malignant tumor nestled above her right ear. Rather than hosting a bunco party that fateful evening, Kelly and her husband were scrambling to make life-and-death decisions for a disease about which they knew absolutely nothing.Despite the dire statistics associated with her Glioblastoma—Grade 4 diagnosis, Kelly chooses to focus on hope, humor, and happiness. Sure, life with a fast-growing, terminal brain tumor can be tough, but this farm girl is even tougher. Having experienced both sides of the coin—as caregiver for her husband during his battle with a rare medical condition, and now as caregivee in her own hot mess express—Kelly is all about sharing her experiences in hopes of helping and encouraging others.There’s Something Going On Upstairs is an uplifting story of faith and perseverance, richly informative and inspiring for anyone dealing with a personal crisis. Can the diagnosis of a cancerous brain tumor actually be a gift? Let Kelly count the ways.

Our Time To Dance, A Mother's Journey To Joy


Eva Doherty Gremmert - 2019
    A 14-month-old baby. And a newborn who isn’t well. Overwhelming.Eva Doherty Gremmert’s life seems like a story book before the birth of her second son, Nicholas James Gremmert. Her first son is hitting all the textbook milestones while Nick is born distant and unresponsive to her. This young woman, with no medical diagnostic experience, inherently knows that something is dreadfully wrong with her son. Seeking answers from the medical professionals caring for Nick, she quickly realizes they won’t acknowledge his birth defects. All the answers they give are cold and unfeeling, simply given to send her away.This brilliant, highly capable mom then turns her mind to discovering her son’s real condition and ways to help him begin to thrive. Eva sought out and found the most cutting-edge pediatric neurologist who became her ally, mentor and friend. And thus began her 40-year transformational journey raising Nick with multiple disabilities and a rare life-threatening illness.Sharing many of the stark, yet often joyful, events of her fight for Nick over his lifetime, Eva eloquently and vividly portrays finding her way forward on her challenging path. At times light and funny, and then dark and foreboding, her story inspires us to unflinchingly strive in the face of all odds. And to find joy in the journey: joy in her son, joy in her family, and joy in her life. Her story inspires readers to unflinchingly strive in the face of all odds.

Every Last Beat


Nicole S. Goodin - 2019
     Everyone gets to live. Some for longer than others. For Violet, born with a life threatening heart defect that has controlled her twenty-one-years, life has been anything but easy. When reality is a high-risk game of trial and error, Violet finds solace the only way she knows how - with a brush in her hand. But everything can change in a heartbeat. Surrounded by loving family and the best friend a girl could ask for, Violet must ask the universe for the biggest favour of all - the one that will keep her alive. AFTER This is about what my heart wants, not what it needs for once, and all that my heart wants in this moment, is him. Life and love don't always go hand in hand. If you're lucky you might get both. It's been three years since the transplant that saved Violet's life... three years since the man with the blue eyes disappeared from her sight but not her dreams. Violet is living the life she never thought she'd get - while Rylan is merely surviving his. Fate collides past and future together in a way neither thought possible, leaving them both questioning everything they thought they knew - and all that might be. Romantic, surreal and heart-warming, Every Last Beat will make you believe there's something bigger out there for all of us. Also available in a two part duet - My Heart Needs and My Heart Wants.

Viral Modernism: The Influenza Pandemic and Interwar Literature


Elizabeth Outka - 2019
    Yet despite these catastrophic death tolls, the pandemic faded from historical and cultural memory in the United States and throughout Europe, overshadowed by World War One and the turmoil of the interwar period. In Viral Modernism, Elizabeth Outka reveals the literary and cultural impact of one of the deadliest plagues in history, bringing to light how it shaped canonical works of fiction and poetry.Outka shows how and why the contours of modernism shift when we account for the pandemic's hidden but widespread presence. She investigates the miasmic manifestations of the pandemic and its spectral dead in interwar Anglo-American literature, uncovering the traces of an outbreak that brought a nonhuman, invisible horror into every community. Viral Modernism examines how literature and culture represented the virus's deathly fecundity, as writers wrestled with the scope of mass death in the domestic sphere amid fears of wider social collapse. Outka analyzes overt treatments of the pandemic by authors like Katherine Anne Porter and Thomas Wolfe and its subtle presence in works by Virginia Woolf, T. S. Eliot, and W. B. Yeats. She uncovers links to the disease in popular culture, from early zombie resurrection to the resurgence of spiritualism. Viral Modernism brings the pandemic to the center of the era, revealing a vast tragedy that has hidden in plain sight.

No Fences in Alaska


Glen Sobey - 2019
    She threatens her parents with suicide unless she can meet her drug-dealing boyfriend, a college student who doesn’t know she’s pregnant. Cooper Lyons, her estranged grandfather, lives in rural Alaska with only his dog and cat for company. He has just been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, and he doesn’t plan on letting the disease run its course. Harper needs to escape her parents and decide what to do about the baby. She and her grandpa are worlds apart, but they may be exactly what the other needs. When Harper calls her grandfather, he welcomes the opportunity to help her and redeem his previous failure with his daughter Heather, who died from a drug overdose years ago.Can they save each other?

Life After Deaf: My Misadventures in Hearing Loss and Recovery


Noel Holston - 2019
    On a spring night in 2010, Noel Holston, a journalist, songwriter, and storyteller, went to bed with reasonably intact hearing. By dawn, it was gone, thus beginning a long process of hearing-restoration that included misdiagnoses, an obstinate health-insurance bureaucracy, failed cochlear-implant surgery, and a second surgery that finally worked. He negotiated the gauntlet with a wry sense of humor and the aid of his supportive wife, Marty. Life After Deaf details his experience with warmth, understanding, and candor. It’s the story not only of his way back to the world of the hearing, but of a great marriage that weathered serious testing. Their determination and resilience serve as a source of inspiration for all.Life After Deaf is not just for the more than forty million people in the United States alone who cope with some form of hearing loss, but is also for their wide circles of friends, family, caregivers, and audiologists. This highly readable book will be an invaluable guide and source of hope for the large number of baby boomers now handling hearing loss.