Book picks similar to
All The Little Graces by Eleanore MacDonald


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Nowhere Like Home: Misadventures in a Changing World


Jamie Alexander - 2012
    Spurred on by what he encountered among the Dayak tribespeople of the Krayan, he made a decision to discover the truth of the world around him, however uncomfortable that truth would turn out to be. From the killing fields of Indonesia to the refugee camps of Palestine, this is the remarkable true story of how this decision came to define his life, seeing him visit some of the least accessible and most volatile places on earth, often armed with little more than a set of disarmingly rosy cheeks and a quirky sense of humour. Exciting, thought-provoking, and occasionally disturbing, Nowhere Like Home forces us to question not only the reasons people travel, but also the very foundations of modern society.

Twenty Miles per Cookie: 9000 Miles of Kid-Powered Adventures


Nancy Sathre-Vogel - 2011
    The next, we were anything but.Perhaps it was a midlife crisis, or maybe just a simple plea for a life less ordinary, but one day we realized the American Dream wasn't the be-all and end-all we had hoped it was and decided to throw caution to the wind. We took off with our eight-year-old twins to explore our country on two wheels.Throughout our twelve-month, 9300-mile journey through nineteen US states and five Mexican states, we four adventurers discovered a side of life seldom portrayed on the nightly news or in the morning paper. Total strangers reached out and embraced us, showing us a kinder,gentler side of humanity than the news would lead you to think existed. Those Road Angels enriched the lives of weary travelers by offering a warm shower, a soft bed to sleep in, or a hot meal after a full day on the road.Life on the road provided unlimited opportunities to meet ordinary people – rich and poor, American and Mexican, city dwellers and countryfolk – and all four of us learned to appreciate the individuality of the wide variety of people we encountered. (from the book's official webpage)

A Lizard In My Luggage: Mayfair To Mallorca In One Easy Move


Anna Nicholas - 2007
    That was until her sister hired an au pair from a rural part of the island who said it was the most beautiful place on earth. On a visit, Anna impulsively decided to buy a ruined farmhouse. Despite her fear of flying, she kept a foot in both camps and commuted to Central London to manage her PR company. But she found herself drawn away from the bustle, stress, and the superficial media world towards the tranquil life. She soon realized that her new existence was more enriching and fulfilling. She was learning to live life for its moments rather than race through it in the fast lane. A Lizard in My Luggage explores Mallorca's fiestas and traditions, as well as the ups and downs of living in a rural retreat. It is about learning to appreciate the simple things and take risks in pursuit of real happiness. Most importantly, it shows that life can be lived between two places.

The Dog's Bollocks


Lynda Renham - 2013
    Feisty and with a great sense of humour, she has some fabulous one liners and is a great main character for this book. Unfortunately she is partnered with a bit of a smarmy loser, Julian, who has done the dirty on her big time but not in the way you might think. Having given up on her dream to nurse in underprivileged areas abroad in order to support Julian in his new venture, and having to work in a launderette whilst trying to keep up with her studies, Harriet is frustrated and just trying to make the best of a bad situation a situation that is going to get a whole lot worse. In the meantime the very rich and pompous Hamilton Lancaster is in a fix as he is desperate to inherit his grandmothers shares but has to show himself to be responsibly settling down as soon as possible in order to do so. After all, his grandmother only has six months to live.... A chance meeting at a mutual friend s wedding leads to Harriet receiving a very interesting proposition and while she feels uncomfortable with it it could solve her increasingly mounting problems. What could go wrong? And who is the very gorgeous guy she also met at the wedding who caused her to tingle in all sorts of places?! This was an hilarious read. Harriet s character is brilliant and she had me in stitches. She is very much your normal average girl thrust into a ridiculous situation and trying to muddle her way through it. Just when you think things can t get any worse they do. Initially I felt sorry for her as she is seemingly blinded by her love for Julian but thankfully as events transpire she comes to realise that what she thought was love, really isn t at all. More a relationship of convenience and mostly convenient for Julian. There is a delightful selection of characters from the faithful and all over the place best friend Fi and her stuttering boyfriend Alistair, who is the butt of many a joke, to the bumbling wannabe East End gangsters and the very upper class family to which Hamilton belongs and who are all hiding secrets of their own. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A carefully written story with many intricacies woven in and yet told in such a witty and relaxed style that as the reader I was pulled in and kept there wanting to keep turning the page to find out what was going to happen next. Verdict: I was already a fan of Lynda Renham having read and enjoyed Pink Wellies and Flat Caps , Wedding Cake to Turin and Coconuts and Wonderbras . Her latest release therefore, The Valentines Present has firmly established her as one of my favorite authors. --BigBookLittleBook.comProduct DescriptionOn arriving home after a friend’s posh wedding, launderette worker Harriet finds her life irrevocably changed as she discovers her flat ransacked and her boyfriend missing. In a matter of hours she is harassed by East End gangsters and upper crust aristocrats. Accepting an offer she can’t refuse, Harriet, against her better judgement becomes the fiancée of the wealthy Hamilton Lancaster, with dire consequences. What she had not bargained on was meeting Doctor Brice Edmunds. The Dog’s Bollocks is Lynda Renham’s funniest novel so far. A cocktail of misunderstandings, three unlikely gangsters, a monkey and a demented cat make this novel a hysterical read. Follow Harriet’s adventure where every attempt to get out of trouble puts her deeper in it. THE DOG'S BOLLOCKS WAS PREVIOUSLY NAMED 'THE VALENTINE PRESENT AND OTHER DIABOLICAL LIBERTIES'.

One Summer in Santorini


Sandy Barker - 2017
    . . Sarah has had enough of men. It’s time to rekindle her first true love – travel – so she books a sailing trip around the Greek islands with a group of strangers.The very last thing Sarah wants is to meet someone new… But then a gorgeous American man boards her yacht and she knows she’s in trouble. And when she also encounters a handsome silver fox who promises her the world, she realises that trouble really does come in twos. Will Sarah dive into a holiday fling, embark on a relationship, or stick to her plan – steer clear of men, continue her love affair with feta, and find her own way after all? The perfect holiday read to escape with this summer for fans of Annie Robertson’s My Mamma Mia Summer and Mandy Baggot’s One Last Greek Summer.‘A summery romantic debut from a fresh voice in romantic fiction. Made me want to pack my bags for the Greek islands this instant!’ Phillipa Ashley, bestselling author of A Perfect Cornish Summer‘A fun and flirty escapist read.’ Samantha Tonge, bestselling author of Knowing You

A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall


Will Chancellor - 2014
    He lands in Berlin where he meets a group of art monsters living in the Teutonic equivalent of Warhol’s Factory. After his son’s abrupt disappearance, Burr dusts off his more speculative ideas in a last-ditch effort to command both Owen’s and the world's attention.   A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall offers a persuasive vision of faith, ambition, art, family, and the myths we write for ourselves.

Carnival


Rawi Hage - 2012
    Fly is a reader, too, and when he’s not in his taxi he is at home in the equally dizzying labyrinth of books that fills his tiny apartment. His best friend is Otto, a political activist who’s in and out of jails and asylums, mourning his dead wife and lost foster son. On one otherwise tawdry night Fly meets Mary, a book-loving passenger with a domineering husband. So begins a romance that is, for Fly, a brief glimmer of light amid the shadows and grit of the Carnival city.Along with Otto and Mary, Fly introduces us to madmen and revolutionaries, magicians and prostitutes as he picks them up and drops them off, traveling through a nightmarish town that is—we can’t help but notice—a parable for our own debauched, unjust world.Wildly imaginative and darkly ironic, Carnival is a magnificent achievement.

Confessions of a Love Addict


Jinni James - 2014
    This book is no longer available.

Things Go Wrong For Me: when life hands you lemons, add vodka


Rodney Lacroix - 2012
    From his childhood, through the raising of his own kids, to his vasectomy and post-divorce world ... this book is more than just a culmination of outrageous stories woven into a cohesive narrative, it’s a testament for the "little guy."In this case, literally. Rodney is 5’3”. He’s very little. Almost tiny. Bank tellers offer him lollipops. He makes holiday money wearing green stockings and fake ears.But even though he’s small in stature, his stories and the laughs that accompany them are definitely BIG.There's no doubt, if you enjoy snorting milk through your nose, and you're drinking milk right now ... you're going to love this book.

Up the Amazon Without a Paddle


Doug Lansky - 1999
    CNN has described him as "having the world's most interesting job." Read about Lansky's experiences: fending off hippos with a canoe paddle on the Zambezi Rivertest driving Ferraris in Italysurviving the world's largest tomato fight in Spainswimming with dolphins off the coast of New Zealandblowgun hunting with the Jaguar Indians in the Amazonriding an ostrich in South Africalassoing reindeer above the Arctic Circlewrestling an alligator in Floridaplaying ice golf in Finland

A Dog Called Perth: The True Story of a Beagle


Peter Martin - 2001
    Almost immediately, she became a central part of their household. Alwayas left to run free, she became indefatigable explorer, gone for hours, sometimes entire days, but her infallible compass always brought her home. From her exploits in upstate New York to the story of her incredible survival in the Vermont wilderness and her later adventures in the English countryside, Perth displayed the same pluck, intelligence, devotion, unshakable trust, and unstinting love.Anyone who has ever owned or grown up with or wanted a dog will be captivated by this extraordinary, beautifully written homage to a very special creature.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea


Heather Hammond - 2012
    In 1866 newspapers across the planet are full of stories about a terrifying creature haunting the world's oceans. Professor Pierre Aronnax, along with his servant Conseil and the master harpooner Ned Land, join the global hunt for the monster. They discover that the beast is actually the Nautilus, a futuristic submarine designed by the mysterious Captain Nemo. Captured and imprisoned aboard the Nautilus, the Professor and his companions begin an extraordinary journey... one that reveals the deepest secrets of both the world's oceans and the terrifying Captain Nemo. A deadly and huge sea monster is sinking ships. Three men--a French scientist, his trusty sidekick, and a Canadian harpoonist are thrown from the deck of their American warship. A door opens on the side of the monster, and they are taken inside the greatest submarine in the world, the top-secret Nautilus commanded by a madman who will take them 20,000 leagues into the depths.

Sellout


James W. Lewis - 2010
    Self-haters. Sellouts. Loan Officer Tammy McDonald has just come out of another failed relationship with a wannabe thug. To break this destructive pattern, she leaves her home city of Dallas for San Diego. As she settles in rainbow California, fantasies of meeting an ebony prince fade, so she eyes Dale Bristol as a potential ivory replacement. Terrell Jackson is San Diego's only black optometrist. Women regularly drop in for more than just eye exams, but he stays true to his girl Tasha until a wet dream unleashes a ridiculous outburst. Fed up with her jealous fits, he denounces the common "dedramanators" in his life-black women. Even though Penelope Miller was raised in the South by a racist father once affiliated with the KKK, she can't ignore her attraction to black men. But she never expected to fall in love with one...nor did she expect her "interracial felony" to threaten their lives. SELLOUT follows these three individuals and the consequences of dating outside their race. In the quest to find what they think is missing in their lives, they encounter guilt, fear and mess they never anticipated...including murder.

If You Build It ...


Dwier Brown - 2014
    is a funny and moving memoir about Fathers, Fate and Field of Dreams. Dwier Brown played Kevin Costner's father for five minutes at the end of the movie Field of Dreams. Despite being an actor for 35 years and performing in hundreds of other films, plays and television shows, it was those five minutes that changed his life. Since the movie's release in 1989, Brown has been recognized by dozens of fans who have told him poignant stories about their fathers and how watching the film changed their lives. Their touching stories helped Brown put into perspective his own father's unexpected death just a month before he began filming Field of Dreams.

The Dog Thief


Marta Acosta - 2018
     Broken-hearted Maddie Whitney, aka Mad Girl, is a dog trainer whose significant behavioral issues make her an outcast in the small rural California town of Coyote Run. When Maddie discovers a murdered woman in a field, she impulsively claims that she's an animal psychic to promote her canine rehabilitation center and save the family ranch. Now the girl who can't make eye contact is the focus of the wrong kind of attention. Maddie's forced to start a Search and Rescue team with her ex-girlfriend's twin brother, Oliver, a hostile sheriff, or risk losing her beloved former military dog. As she trains Oliver to be a dog handler, their relationship evolves from animosity to respect and more. Meanwhile, Maddie's younger sister, Kenzie, who has always cared for Maddie, yearns for a life of her own, and the unknown murderer believes the animal psychic will discover his identity. Difficult and complicated Maddie makes new friends, faces life-threatening dangers, and tests her ability to function without the protective walls she's built around her. "Amazing! A gripping read that will have your heart racing from start to finish." —James Sinclair, Autistic & Unapologetic Praise for Marta Acosta's Books "Acosta's talent is staggering. In each of her Casa Dracula books, she shows readers all over again just how funny, ridiculous, and thoroughly gifted she is at plotting." —Romantic Times "A breath of fresh air in a genre marked by creaky gender relations and unchallenged class stratification." —Kirkus Reviews "Her well-drawn characters shine... Acosta's story is an impressive contender in the crowded YA field." —Publishers Weekly "Acosta writes for us smart, funny, modern women, and that's why I treasure her stories so." —Dirty Sexy Books