Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Amelia Stalwood lives in a London townhouse, but she's never actually met any nobility. Then, by chance, she meets the Hawthorne family, who welcome her into their world. When a nasty rumor threatens her reputation, society turns its back on her. Will her new friends--and the marquis she's fallen for--do the same?
Three Black gay millennial men look for love, friendship, and professional success in the Motor City in this hilarious and touching debut novel. Suddenly jobless and single after a devastating layoff and a breakup with his cheating ex, advertising copywriter Dominick Gibson flees his life in Hell’s Kitchen for a fresh start in his hometown of Detroit. He’s got one objective—exit the shallow dating pool ASAP and get married by thirty-five—and the deadline’s approaching fast. Meanwhile, Dom’s best friend, Troy Clements, an idealistic teacher who never left Michigan, finds himself at odds with all the men in his life: a troubled boyfriend he’s desperate to hold onto, a perpetually dissatisfied father, and his other friend, Remy Patton. Remy, a rags-to-riches real estate agent known as “Mr. Detroit,” has his own problems—namely choosing between making it work with a long-distance lover or settling for a local Mr. Right Now who’s not quite Mr. Right. And when a high-stakes real estate deal threatens to blow up his friendship with Troy, the three men must figure out how to navigate the pitfalls of friendship and a city that seems to be changing overnight. Full of unforgettable characters, Boys Come First is about the trials and tribulations of real friendship, but also about the highlights and hiccups—late nights at the wine bar, awkward Grindr hookups, workplace microaggressions, situationships, frenemies, family drama, and of course, the group chat—that define Black, gay, millennial life in today’s Detroit.Show book
A story with a compassionate eye, the heartwarming vibes of A Man Called Ove mixed with the high emotional stakes of Anne Tyler, Cattail Lane is an uplifting family drama about overcoming the past and the extraordinary power of second chances Nick Ackerman’s life is an aimless circuit between his uninspiring job and the local bar until a note from a stranger changes everything. He learns he has a 14-year-old son, Billy, whose grandmother can no longer look after him. Railroaded into fatherhood, Nick takes in the resentful Billy and shuffles Grandma Evie off to the nearby dementia ward at Prairie View Manor. Things get off to a rocky start: father and son are little more than strangers, and Nick struggles with his new caretaking role while Billy can’t seem to let go of his. Luckily, there is Sarah, a housekeeper in the dementia ward and the single mother of an energetic and offbeat five-year-old. It is Sarah who Nick turns to as a parental role model and maybe something more. Nick, Sarah, and Billy all carry their own betrayals and disappointments and are used to keeping others at a distance, but during the dog days of summer, they are given a chance to leave past hurts behind and find a new kind of family. Compassionate and closely observed, Cattail Lane is a moving exploration of forgiveness, second chances, and the everyday moments where we might find our way to one another.Show book
The holiday stirs up excitement as fondly remembered guests come to stay and acquaintances grow into more. . . . With a promise to her youngest sister, Sarah Summers declares that this year's Christmas at Sea View will exceed all expectations. But an upcoming trip to Scotland--and the prospect of becoming reacquainted with dashing widower Callum Henshall--blows a flurry of doubts into her mind. Sarah had discouraged his attentions before yet soon finds herself once again torn between attraction and duty as alluring thoughts of a second chance at love weave their way into her practical heart. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Georgiana eagerly anticipates the exciting Christmas of her dreams after last year's dull, disappointing holiday filled with endless chores. She enjoys all the promised parties, music, and dancing, but is taken by surprise when young love comes knocking. Does the festive romance of a Sea View Christmas hold the key to a happily-ever-after for both sisters? Spend the holiday season with the Summers sisters on the charming Devonshire coast, where family bonds are strengthened, love is rekindled, and Christmas joy abounds. Julie Klassen's heartwarming Christmas companion to the On Devonshire Shores series holds themes of friends to more, sisterhood bonds, and matchmaking that will fill you with holiday spirit. This novella can be read separately or along with the series and will appeal to fans of Jane Austen, English Regency romance, and Downtown Abbey.Show book
Lucas Playboy. Rebel. Rogue.No one denies Lucas anything. Women fall at his feet and into his bed at the click of his fingers. His life is charmed, reckless and carefreehe is definitely a bad boy.Grace Carter knows uncontrollable Lucas could ruin her career, and she won't tolerate his wayward behavior, despite their chemistry. But working with Lucas is thrilling, and after just a small dose of his magic, even Grace's primandproper shell begins to splinterShow book
INTRIGUE. TENSION. LOVE AFFAIRS: In The Historical Romance series, a set of stand-alone novels, Vivian Stuart builds her compelling narratives around the dramatic lives of sea captains, nurses, surgeons, and members of the aristocracy. Stuart takes us back to the societies of the 20th century, drawing on her own experience of places across Australia, India, East Asia, and the Middle East. Elizabeth Ogilvie sailed on the maiden voyage of the S.S Viking with rather mixed feelings. It was not that her job, as assistant purser, was likely to set her any problems; nor was she worried at having to keep secret the fact that she was virtually related to the Chairman of the shipping line, who was also on board — travelling incognito, for reasons of his own. What had been so upsetting for Elizabeth was to discover, at the last moment, that the Captain of the ship was to be Hugh Anson, with whom she had once been in love. But although Elizabeth did not know it, there were others on board with even bigger reasons for treating the Captain with hostility. Altogether it looked like being anything but a peaceful voyage!Show book
From the New York Times–bestselling author of The Forever Year, a “poignant” novel about best friends in crisis (Long and Short Reviews). Rich Flaster and Eric Dazman—aka Flash and Dazzle—have been friends since their college days, and they remain as tight as ever as their work starts attracting praise and attention in the advertising industry. Now Rich is being wooed by a high-profile agency in downtown Manhattan—but they have no interest in hiring his creative partner. Before Rich can bring himself to tell his best friend about the job offer, Eric receives a far more devastating piece of news: an upsetting medical diagnosis. His shy, beautiful sister arrives to give him support, and Rich is faced with an emotional challenge. He’s deceived his friend—however, there are a lot of things Eric hasn’t shared with him either. Suddenly, breaking up this two-man team takes on a more painful meaning—and, with time a precious commodity, Flash and Dazzle have to get past the superficial and connect on a deeper level.Flash and Dazzle is a story of men who have known the best of times as they come to grips with the worst of times, and of the friends and lovers who enter their orbit in relationships both brief and enduring. It is a story of legacies, burdens, and the kinds of secrets that are only revealed when there’s nothing left to tell. Funny, moving, and honest, it will inspire you to call everyone you care about and thank them for what they’ve given you. “A master storyteller. . . . He stirs emotions and senses that bring tears and laughter.” —Long and Short Reviews “A dynamic contemporary novel . . . fully engaging and worthwhile reading. Lou Aronica is a talented writer who uses subtlety rather than explicit description to depict the normalcy, quirkiness and fluctuations of honest characters.” —Crystal Book Reviews “Rich Flaster and Eric Dazman are so real; the reader will feel like they are part of the duo’s close knit friends.” —Literarily IlluminedShow book
