Download or read book Net of Jewels written by Ellen Gilchrist and published by Diversion Books. This book was released on 2013-11-22 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Home for the summer in Dunleith, Alabama, Rhoda Manning’s life appears at ease. But the headstrong, passionate 19-year-old refuses to settle for a comfortable, conventional existence. Yearning for a life of profundity, adventure, and beauty, Rhoda breaks from the seemingly secure world of her family to recklessly follow her dreams—but not without tragic and disturbing consequences. A failed marriage, shady abortion, an impulsive decision to sneak into a midnight meeting of the Klan, dates with her shrink, a deluge of booze, and a bout of repentance all seem to vie as the means to Rhoda's own liberation. Gilchrist unflinchingly takes us through the turbulence of Rhoda’s formative years, on an outrageous coming-of-age journey of a young white woman in the 1960’s South—digging through the bone to reveal the chill of human experience. PRAISE: “One of the lies we enjoy telling ourselves is that when we were young, we were crazy and wild. But hey, sensitive, too, and reflective, full of conscience, already evolving into the mature human beings we are now. Ellen Gilchrist`s novel, Net of Jewels, provides an uncomfortable reminder that, more likely, we were controlled by brute forces-our raw emotions and emerging libidos, our parents and our desperate need to fit in, whatever that meant where and when we grew up.” —Chicago Tribune “Ellen Gilchrist refracts life through a prism of precious gems, a net of jewels. Her fiction is always a kind of prose poem, a dance of seven veils. Like all of Gilchrist’s work, her latest novel dazzles and pulsates, and even in the few passages of below-normal sheen, Net of Jewels still qualifies as an almost imperceptibly flawed diamond.” —Los Angeles Times In her ninth book, which begins in the mid-50's, Ellen Gilchrist tracks a 19-year-old who drinks too much, marries too young, and is bored by her own children. The plucky Rhoda Manning has appeared in many of Gilchrist's short stories; in Net of Jewels she positively struts. ...She struggles to free herself from the constraints of upper-crust Southern society, yet insists on enjoying all its advantages. Interestingly, Gilchrist chooses not describe Rhoda's transformation into a ''better'' person ... ''If we could understand one thing entirely, we might understand it all.'' Rhoda philosophizes. ... An engaging novel [with] beauty and emotional horsepower. —Entertainment Weekly

Download or read book I Cannot Get You Close Enough written by Ellen Gilchrist and published by Diversion Books. This book was released on 2017-08-06 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Three intertwining novellas about love, death, and the bonds of blood: “To say that Ellen Gilchrist can write is to say that Placido Domingo can sing.”—Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Journeying through the lives of different members of the Hand family, Ellen Gilchrist weaves together tumultuous relationships that are bound by blood. A harrowing custody battle leads Anna Hand to Istanbul and back to ensure once and for all that her niece is safe from her conniving mother’s ploys. Jessie, finally free from her mother’s influence, has her life upended when Olivia, the sister she never knew she had, appears at the Hands’ home. Between this and the shocking loss of her aunt, Jessie doesn’t know if her resentment of Olivia comes from their chaotic meeting or something suspicious bubbling just beneath Olivia’s surface. Meanwhile Olivia, the half-Native American child who had never known a normal family, must cope with this new world of high society. Losing Anna, and having a dark and desperate secret exposed, may send her back to Tahlequah—if it doesn’t send her over the edge first. And Anna, leaving a legacy of literature in her wake, may do more harm in death than she ever wanted in life, as her sister enters a vicious fight to recover her lost writing… “Always she takes the long, comic view of her characters' frailties, for only through the chaos they create, she seems to suggest, do family trees writhe toward the light.”—The New York Times “Gilchrist brilliantly captures the intimate accents and rhythms of a family under stress.”—Publishers Weekly “A thoroughly engaging work.”—Library Journal

Download or read book I Cannot Get You Close Enough written by Ellen Gilchrist and published by Little Brown. This book was released on 1990 with total page 391 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: FICTION-GENERAL

Download or read book Close Enough to Touch written by Colleen Oakley and published by Atlantic Books. This book was released on 2017-03-07 with total page 398 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One time a boy kissed me and I almost died... And so begins the story of Jubilee Jenkins, a 28-year-old woman with a unique and debilitating medical condition - she's allergic to other humans. After a humiliating, near-death experience in high school, Jubilee has become reclusive in her adulthood, living the past nine years in the confines of the Victorian house her unaffectionate mother deeded to her when she ran off with a wealthy businessman. But now, her mother is dead, and without her financial support, Jubilee is forced to leave home and face the world - and the people in it - she's been hiding from. One of those people is Eric Keegan, a man who just moved into town for work. With a daughter from his failed marriage no longer speaking to him, and a brilliant, if psychologically troubled, adopted son who believes he has untapped telekinetic powers, Eric's struggling to figure out how his life got so off course, and how to be the dad - and man - he wants so desperately to be. Then, one day, he meets a mysterious woman named Jubilee...

Download or read book In the Land of Dreamy Dreams written by Ellen Gilchrist and published by Diversion Books. This book was released on 2013-11-22 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the Land of Dreamy Dreams, Ellen Gilchrist's acclaimed 1981 debut collection of short stories, introduced readers to a remarkable Southern voice which has sustained its power and influence through her more than 20 subsequent books. Gilchrist has a distinctive ear for language, and a deep understanding of her flawed, sometimes tragic characters. These fourteen stories, divided into three sections -- There's a Garden of Eden, Things Like the Truth, and Perils of the Nile -- are about mostly young, upper-class Southern women who are bored with the Junior League and having babies, and chafe against the restrictions of their sheltered lives. Talented and bright, but living in the shadow of men -- their husbands and fathers -- they resort to outrageous actions in pursuit of freer lives and uncompromised love, despite the consequences. This collection first introduced readers to some of Gilchrist's most beloved characters, such as Rhoda Manning and Nora Jane Whittington. PRAISE: "It's difficult to review a first book as good as this one without resorting to every known superlative cliché...Gilchrist is the real thing." —Washington Post “A sustained display of delicately and rhythmically modulated prose and an unsentimental dissection of raw sentiment. Her stories are perceptive, her manner is both stylish and idiomatic – a rare and potent combination.” —Times Literary Supplement “Witty, concise and wonderfully varied.” —Literary Review “Gilchrist possess a distinctive voice, and blends a sense of poignancy with an often outrageously Gothic humor.” —New York Times Book Review “Her prose is quick-witted and urbane and as gossipy as Vanity Fair. Quite simply there is no Southern writer quite like her.” —Raleigh News & Observer

Download or read book Close Enough to Touch written by Victoria Dahl and published by HQN Books. This book was released on 2017-02-27 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A heartbroken LA makeup artist gets back on the horse with a sexy Wyoming cowboy in this romantic comedy by a USA Today–bestselling author. Can a city girl make it in the wild, wild West? For makeup artist Grace Barrett, Hollywood isn’t the land of golden opportunity. It’s the land of difficult divas, cheating boyfriends and unemployment. So when her great-aunt offers her a free place to stay in Jackson, Grace thinks she’ll spend a little time in the sticks to figure out her life, and then move somewhere exciting to live out her dreams. But it turns out that there are a few more thrills in this small town than Grace was expecting. . . . Cole Rawlins is a rugged Wyoming cowboy born and bred. Yet he can’t help but be drawn to the fascinating big-city girl who moves in across from him. He wants to get close enough to Grace to see past her tough facade, but if he does, she might see the real Cole. The one with a Hollywood history gone bad. As they discover a sizzling attraction, it becomes harder for him to keep his demons at bay—and those fires from long ago may burn them both. They’ll need more than scorching-hot passion to make this opposites-attract affair work. But if they can learn to trust one another enough to reveal their secrets, they just might have a chance at forever. Originally published in 2012. Praise for the novels of Victoria Dahl “Sassy and smokingly sexy . . . One delicious joyride of a book.” —New York Times–bestselling author Connie Brockway on Talk Me Down “A hot and funny story about a woman many of us can relate to.” —Salon.com on Crazy for Love “A hands-down winner, a sensual story filled with memorable characters.” —Booklist on Start Me Up

Download or read book Rhoda written by Ellen Gilchrist and published by Diversion Books. This book was released on 2018-12-18 with total page 415 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fiction collection, including two new stories, from the award-winning author: “Rhoda is a fully realized creation. And not one to be dismissed lightly.”—Entertainment Weekly From Ellen Gilchrist, a National Book Award winner and “national treasure” (The Washington Post), this volume includes twenty-three stories starring Rhoda Manning—“the shining manifestation of Gilchrist’s wry, intelligent, and passionate writing” (Kirkus Review). Follow Rhoda from age eight to age sixty, as she grows from a hot-tempered, impetuous child to a complex, confident adult. Even at a young age, Rhoda loves to get her way, boasting a unique spark that only shines brighter in an adulthood full of sex and excitement. From diet pills to multiple marriages to far-reaching travels and a writing career, Rhoda’s relentless hunger for adventure will delight all who accompany her on her journeys. “A winner…Rhoda is as real as anyone who has ever ‘lived’ in a book.”—Library Journal “Rhoda loves to shop, swear and get her own way; she has always been a vivid and indelible character.”—Publishers Weekly “One of the most engaging and surprisingly lovable characters in modern fiction.”—Robert Olen Butler

Download or read book Close Enough to Kill written by Beverly Barton and published by Pinnacle Books. This book was released on 2017-07-25 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A beautiful sheriff tracks a serial killer through small town Alabama in the New York Times bestselling author’s “fun and satisfying” romantic thriller (Publishers Weekly). He’s their secret admirer, wooing them with phone calls, love letters, and special gifts. From a distance, he admires them. Desires them. Despises them. And when he gets close enough, he kills them all. Adams County, Alabama, is a friendly place where everyone knows each other—but not well enough, it seems. Someone among them is a serial killer who first romances, then stalks, kidnaps, and kills his victims. It’s the first big case for sheriff Bernie Granger, and a chance to prove herself to her new partner, Memphis police detective Jim Norton. But this killer is uncannily smart. It’s as if he knows what Bernie is thinking. And his next move is more than shocking—it’s chillingly personal.

Download or read book Close Enough for the Angels written by Paul Madonna and published by Petty Curse Books. This book was released on 2017-09-05 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A mystery and a love story about art, creativity, and above all, luck--good, bad, and everything in between. With over one hundred lush and haunting drawings, this full-length, character driven story is a fresh and innovative reinvention of the illustrated novel.

Download or read book Deadly Little Lies written by Laurie Faria Stolarz and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. This book was released on 2009-11-11 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift--pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition.

Download or read book Falling Through Space written by Ellen Gilchrist and published by Univ. Press of Mississippi. This book was released on 2000 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enhanced with 15 new essays, this collection is the benchmark of an acclaimed writer's spunk and sense of place. Originally published in 1987, "Falling Through Space" provides a funny and intimate diary of a writer's self-discovery. 42 photos.

Download or read book Victory Over Japan written by Ellen Gilchrist and published by Diversion Books. This book was released on 2014-01-17 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published in 1984, this collection of 14 short stories set in Arkansas and Mississippi went on to win that year’s National Book Award for fiction, confirming Ellen Gilchrist’s place as one of the preeminent literary talents of her generation. Victory Over Japan takes us into the lives of an unforgettable group of Southern women — beautiful, complicated, enchanting, and sometimes dangerous — in and out of bars, marriages, divorces, lovers' arms, and even earthquakes, in an attempt to find happiness, or at least some satisfaction. Throughout these stories, one hears echoes of Flannery O'Connor and Eudora Welty, but Ms. Gilchrist has her own unique literary voice, and it is outrageously funny, moving, tragic, and always appealing. PRAISE: “To say that Ellen Gilchrist can write is to say that Placido Domingo can sing. All you need to do is listen.” —Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post “She is what they call a natural, writing with passion, authority and a noticeable lack of the self-consciousness that weighs down much of contemporary fiction.” —San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle “Ellen Gilchrist’s achievement is to create lives which refuse to be bound on the page by words and sentences . . . the writing is full of understanding that doesn’t advertise itself as perception or insight.” —London Daily Telegraph

Download or read book Close Enough for Jazz written by Michael Zwerin and published by Quartet Books (UK). This book was released on 1983 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mike Zwerin played with Miles Davis in the original Birth of the Cool sessions, but most of the anecdotes from his life as a participant and observer of jazz come from his days in the big bands of Maynard Ferguson and Claude Thornhill. Plenty of goofy moments from musicians on the road, self-discovery in Paris, etc. Not quite a working-class session musician, but not a star either, Mike comes off as amusing and down-to-earth. A fun read for musicians.

Download or read book Fade written by Kyle Mills and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 2010-04-01 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New York Times bestselling author of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp novels Kyle Mills rewrites the rules for thrillers with Fade -- a novel ripped from today's headlines Welcome to the new war on terror. A secret wing of Homeland Security is recruiting agents to work undercover in the Middle East, and the director wants his second-in-command, Matt Egan, to bring aboard an old friend, Salam Al Fayed—better known as Fade. He's perfect: An ex-Navy Seal and the son of immigrants, he speaks flawless Arabic. Trouble is, he's "retired"; he was wounded in the line of duty, and the government refused to pay for the risky surgery that could have helped him. Now he's walking around with a bullet lodged near his spine, and he's not too fond of anyone in the government -- least of all, his ex-best friend Matt Egan, whom he blames for his present condition. Against Egan's wishes, the director tries to "persuade" Fade to join the team. But Fade is prepared to fight back at any cost. The chase is on -- will Matt be able to find his friend-turned-fugitive before Fade can take the ultimate revenge? Fade is a remarkable, take-no-prisoners program from an unparalleled writer at the height of his talents.

Download or read book Not a Fan Updated and Expanded written by Kyle Idleman and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2016-02-02 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Not a Fan has already called more than one million readers to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple--moving from fan to follower in their relationship with Jesus. After years of serving God, pastor and bestselling author Kyle Idleman had a startling revelation: for too long, he had been living as a fan of Jesus; someone who tried to make Christianity seem as appealing, comfortable, and convenient as he possibly could to others. Idleman decided something had to change--he needed to embark on the journey of becoming a completely committed follower of God, not just a fan. Fans want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires sacrifice, while followers are all in and completely committed to Christ. Not a Fan gives you the tools you need to determine exactly where you stand when it comes to your relationship with Jesus. No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, Not a Fan calls you to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple. With frankness and a touch of humor, Idleman invites you to: Examine your relationship with God Determine if you're following Jesus or just following the rules Pray the way Jesus prayed Start truly living for the one who gave his all for you This expanded and updated version of Not a Fan also includes a new introduction and an entirely new chapter about how to practically live out the book's core message. Join Idleman as he challenges you to take an honest look at your relationship with Jesus and discover what it really means to be a follower.

Download or read book The Unhoneymooners written by Christina Lauren and published by Gallery Books. This book was released on 2019-05-14 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews * Publishers Weekly * Library Journal Named a “Must-Read” by TODAY, Us Weekly, Bustle, BuzzFeed, Goodreads, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, Southern Living, Book Riot, Woman’s Day, The Toronto Star, and more! For two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime—maybe even love—in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies. Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky twin: from inexplicable mishaps to a recent layoff, her life seems to be almost comically jinxed. By contrast, her sister Ami is an eternal champion...she even managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a slew of contests. Unfortunately for Olive, the only thing worse than constant bad luck is having to spend the wedding day with the best man (and her nemesis), Ethan Thomas. Olive braces herself for wedding hell, determined to put on a brave face, but when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. Suddenly there’s a free honeymoon up for grabs, and Olive will be damned if Ethan gets to enjoy paradise solo. Agreeing to a temporary truce, the pair head for Maui. After all, ten days of bliss is worth having to assume the role of loving newlyweds, right? But the weird thing is...Olive doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, the more she pretends to be the luckiest woman alive, the more it feels like she might be. With Christina Lauren’s “uniquely hilarious and touching voice” (Entertainment Weekly), The Unhoneymooners is a romance for anyone who has ever felt unlucky in love.

Download or read book Love and Other Impossible Pursuits written by Ayelet Waldman and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2007-02-13 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this moving, wry, and candid novel, widely acclaimed novelist Ayelet Waldman takes us through one woman’s passage through love, loss, and the strange absurdities of modern life.Emilia Greenleaf believed that she had found her soulmate, the man she was meant to spend her life with. But life seems a lot less rosy when Emilia has to deal with the most neurotic and sheltered five-year-old in New York City: her new stepson William. Now Emilia finds herself trying to flag down taxis with a giant, industrial-strength car seat, looking for perfect, strawberry-flavored, lactose-free cupcakes, receiving corrections on her French pronunciation from her supercilious stepson – and attempting to find balance in a new family that’s both larger, and smaller, than she bargained for. In Love and Other Impossible Pursuits Ayelet Waldman has created a novel rich with humor and truth, perfectly characterizing one woman’s search for answers in a crazily uncertain world.