Download or read book The Alphabet Sisters and Lola s Secret written by Monica McInerney and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 831 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Once as close-knit as sisters can be, Anna, Bett and Carrie haven't spoken in three years. They are still feeling the effects of the fight which tore them apart - but a summons to their grandmother's birthday party forces them out of their silence. Lola, the big-hearted, strong-willed grandmother who first nicknamed them the Alphabet Sisters, has a plan to reunite them. And while none of the women is eager to confront the past, each has a new reason to long for their sisters' support. But just as they find their way back to one another, the sisters are rocked by a greater challenge than ever before - one which will teach them the true value of family...

Download or read book Lola s Secret Pink Popular Penguins written by Monica McInerney and published by Penguin Group Australia. This book was released on 2014-04-23 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the Valley View Motel, Lola Quinlan is up to her usual mischief. She's sent her family away for the holidays and invited a number of mystery guests to come and stay. But who are all these people, and why aren't they spending Christmas with their own loved ones? As the big day draws closer, Lola discovers that at a special time of year, magic can happen in every family - especially your own. Co-founded by Jane and Glenn McGrath, the McGrath Foundation raises money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities right across Australia and to increase breast awareness in young women. The McGrath Foundation believes 150 of these specially trained nurses are needed to ensure that every family experiencing breast cancer has access to a breast care nurse, no matter where they live or their financial situation. McGrath Breast Care Nurses offer a unique service to families who can self-refer to this free support. By purchasing this special edition you are helping the McGrath Foundation realise their goal. To find out how you can make a difference visit www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au

Download or read book The Alphabet Sisters written by Monica McInerney and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2005-05-17 with total page 450 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As girls growing up in Clare Valley, Australia, Anna, Bett, and Carrie Quinlan were childhood singing stars known as The Alphabet Sisters. The unbridled enthusiasm of their flamboyant grandmother Lola was the glue that held them together. As adults, though, the women haven’t spoken in years–ever since Bett’s fiancé deserted her to marry the younger Carrie. Now Lola is turning eighty and she is determined to reunite the girls for a blowout bash. And no one ever says no to Lola. Bett, who fled to London after the scandal of losing her fiancé, is hesitant to face her sisters and her hometown–especially since she has yet to find another man. Sophisticated Anna, the eldest sister, isn’t too keen on the prospect either, though she’s secretly grateful for any excuse to leave her crumbling marriage behind in Sydney. And Carrie, who remained in Clare Valley, is perhaps the most apprehensive. Her marriage–the nominal cause of the sisters’ estrangement–is also on the rocks. Was she wrong to have followed her heart and run off with Bett’s fiancé? When Lola shares her special request, that the girls stage a musical she has written, their short visit becomes a much longer commitment. As they are forced to spend more time together, the sisters must confront the pain that lingers between them. Preconceptions and misunderstandings are slowly put aside and the three find themselves gradually, irresistibly enveloping one another once again–until an unexpected turn of events changes everything in ways none of them could have ever imagined. . . . Layering the lighthearted antics of small-town life with a heartbreaking story of loyalty lost and found, The Alphabet Sisters is an unforgettable story of two generations of women who learn that being true to themselves means being true to one another. BONUS: This edition contains excerpts from Monica McInerney's Lola's Secret, At Home with the Templetons, The Faraday Girls, Family Baggage, Greetings from Somewhere Else, and Upside Down Inside Out.

Download or read book The House of Memories written by Monica McInerney and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2014-02-04 with total page 498 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Months after a tragic accident, Ella O’Hanlon flees to London in an attempt to escape her grief, leaving behind the two people she blames for her loss: Aidan, the love of her life, and Jess, her spoiled half-sister. Taken in by her beloved uncle Lucas, Ella discovers that his extraordinary house holds many wonderful memories for her…and his group of transitory boarders provides a refreshing and welcome emotional tonic. But as Ella settles into a comfortable new role as unofficial cook and housemother, Jess secretly comes to London to pursue her own dreams, precipitating an unexpected family reunion and an exploration of the heart—one famished for love, for healing, and for forgiveness. READERS GUIDE INCLUDED

Download or read book Hello From the Gillespies written by Monica McInerney and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2014-11-04 with total page 648 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE PERFECT READ FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON It's time for the annual holiday letter from the Gillespie family.... New from the author of The House of Memories For the past thirty-three years, Angela Gillespie has sent to friends and family around the world an end-of-the-year letter titled “Hello from the Gillespies.” It’s always been cheery and full of good news. This year, Angela surprises herself—she tells the truth.... The Gillespies are far from the perfect family that Angela has made them out to be. Her husband is coping badly with retirement. Her thirty-two-year-old twins are having career meltdowns. Her third daughter, badly in debt, can’t stop crying. And her ten-year-old son spends more time talking to his imaginary friend than to real ones. Without Angela, the family would fall apart. But when Angela is taken away from them in a most unexpected manner, the Gillespies pull together—and pull themselves together—in wonderfully surprising ways… READERS GUIDE INCLUDED

Download or read book The Trip of a Lifetime written by Monica McInerney and published by Penguin Group Australia. This book was released on 2017-07-03 with total page 437 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘I always thought memories were unchangeable. Set in stone, shaped by the years. But there are always others too, ones you haven’t let yourself remember . . . ’ The wilful and eccentric Lola Quinlan is off on the trip of a lifetime, taking her beloved granddaughter and great-granddaughter with her. More than sixty years after emigrating to Australia, she's keeping a secret promise to return to her Irish homeland. But as she embarks on her journey, the flamboyant Lola is still hiding the hurtful reasons she left Ireland in the first place. What - and who - will be waiting for her on the other side of the world? The Trip of a Lifetime is a big, bold, beautiful book about the light and dark times of life, and all the wonders in between. Moving from the Clare Valley of South Australia to the lush Irish countryside, this is a delightful, emotional story about a colourful and huge-hearted family that you'll want to call your own.

Download or read book Lola s Secret written by Monica McInerney and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2012-10-16 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Praised as “Australia’s answer to Maeve Binchy, a modern-day Jane Austen” (The Sun Herald, Australia), Monica McInerney, internationally bestselling author of The Alphabet Sisters, returns with a poignant novel of love, loss, and the enduring strength of family ties. Nestled in a picturesque corner of southern Australia, the Valley View Motel has been run by the Quinlans for years—and nobody adores the place more than Lola, the family’s lovable and mischievous Irish-born matriarch. So when she insists that her relatives spend their Christmas elsewhere, the close-knit bunch can’t help but be a bit curious. Lola has always had a knack for clever schemes; after all, she once slyly reunited her three feuding granddaughters, whom she nicknamed the Alphabet Sisters. And with the holiday season fast approaching, Lola decides it’s time to stir up some extra excitement. Plotting in secret and online, Lola thinks it would be fun to invite a select group of strangers to stay at the motel for Christmas. Will these guests become friends, ignite sparks, fall in love? As she counts down the days until their arrival, Lola’s own family dramas threaten to upend her best-laid plans. Yet amid moments of humor, heartache, and unexpected twists of fate, Lola finds that she’s the one who’s in for the biggest surprise of all. “[Monica] McInerney’s assured writing sparkles. . . . When you reach the end, [Lola’s Secret] will leave you feeling like you’ve been given a huge, warm hug.”—Hello! magazine “A delicate treat . . . a lovely, gentle story of a family, a Christmas, love and different kinds of adventure.”—The Courier-Mail (Australia) “Exploring universal family issues of loss, rivalry, aging and grief, [Lola’s Secret] is a warm, witty and moving novel.”—Woman’s Day (Australia) Look for special features inside. Join the Circle for author chats and more.

Download or read book Family Baggage written by Monica McInerney and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2006-06-27 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “An endearing and humane story about a family and its sticky web of secrets and misunderstandings . . . one of those rare books you could recommend to anyone and know that they’ll love it.” –The Australian Women’s Weekly Harriet Turner knows all about journeys. She’s arranged hundreds of them for her family’s travel agency. Now Harriet is joining her adopted sister, Lara, to lead a group through the Cornish countryside. But when Lara fails to appear at the airport as planned, Harriet finds herself in uncharted territory and suddenly alone with a busload of eccentric seniors. As the tour wends its way through the picturesque landscape, Harriet must uncover her sister’s whereabouts and confront long-held family secrets involving Lara’s arrival twenty-five years ago . . . not to mention keeping track of more baggage–real and emotional–than she ever expected. BONUS: This edition contains excerpts from Monica McInerney's Lola's Secret, At Home with the Templetons, The Faraday Girls, The Alphabet Sisters, Greetings from Somewhere Else, and Upside Down Inside Out.

Download or read book Dr Seuss s ABC written by Dr. Seuss and published by Random House Books for Young Readers. This book was released on 2014-01-07 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Aunt Annie's Alligator to Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz, this sturdy board book version of Dr. Seuss's ABC is now available in a bigger trim size. With Dr. Seuss as your guide, learning the alphabet is as fun and as funny as the feather on a Fiffer-feffer-feff!

Download or read book The Alphabet Sisters written by Monica McInerney and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 451 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Known from childhood as singing trio The Alphabet Sisters, Anna, Bett and Carrie Quinlan haven't spoken for years. Not since Bett's fiance left her and married Carrie instead. But as the 80th birthday party of their indomitable grandmother, Lola, looms, they know a reunion is imminent. Each sister has to put on a brave face to gloss over life's imperfections: in Sydney, Anna's marriage is in pieces and her young daughter is suffering the consequences; in London, Bett has lost all confidence in her work and romantic life; and in South Australia, Carrie's love for Matthew, the man who caused all the trouble in the first place, has faded. Their reunion is extended from days into weeks when Lola, flushed with enthusiasm, ropes the sisters into staging an amateur production of a musical comedy she has written. Amidst the chaotic preparations for the great event, a spark of complicity is reignited between the three, and slowly they find themselves beginning to share laughs, memories and fresh insights into each other's lives. But just as the rifts begin to close, the past threatens to disrupt their relationship all over again.

Download or read book Odd One Out written by Monica McInerney and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2014-10-14 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the international bestselling author of Hello from the Gillespies and The House of Memories comes the warm, funny story of a woman who defies her family’s expectations on a journey to redefine herself. For years, Sylvie Devereaux, the one member of her famous family of artists and designers who has no artistic talent at all, has been the “go to” person for their every practical need, and all of it has gone largely unappreciated. But her sister’s second wedding provides a moment of truth. During the reception, Great-Aunt Millicent publicly offers to hire Sylvie as her companion, so that they can be old maids together. Is that how people really think of her? Is that what she wants? Only her brother Sebastian seems to see Sylvie as a warm-hearted, talented woman who deserves a life of her own. With his encouragement, Sylvie begins to step out of her family’s shadow, but creating a future for herself isn’t as straightforward or predictable a process as she expects. And where she ends up surprises everyone, Sylvie most of all. Praise for Monica McInerney and her novels: “McInerney brings humor and insight into issues of sibling rivalry, family secrecy, and romantic betrayal.”—The Boston Globe “You’ll be laughing out loud one minute and crying the next.”—Cosmopolitan “Monica McInerney isn’t just one of my favorite writers from down under, but from anywhere.”—Sally Koslow, author of The Widow Waltz “[McInerney] brings Maeve Binchy readily to mind.”—The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, Australia) International bestselling writer Monica McInerney is the award-winning author of ten previous novels including Hello From the Gillespies and The House of Memories, one short-story collection, and numerous stories and articles. She grew up in Australia, one of seven children, and has split her time between Australia and Ireland for twenty years. Monica and her Irish husband currently live in Dublin, Ireland.

Download or read book Lola s Secret written by Monica McInerney and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2012-10-16 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Praised as “Australia’s answer to Maeve Binchy, a modern-day Jane Austen” (The Sun Herald, Australia), Monica McInerney, internationally bestselling author of The Alphabet Sisters, returns with a poignant novel of love, loss, and the enduring strength of family ties. Nestled in a picturesque corner of southern Australia, the Valley View Motel has been run by the Quinlans for years—and nobody adores the place more than Lola, the family’s lovable and mischievous Irish-born matriarch. So when she insists that her relatives spend their Christmas elsewhere, the close-knit bunch can’t help but be a bit curious. Lola has always had a knack for clever schemes; after all, she once slyly reunited her three feuding granddaughters, whom she nicknamed the Alphabet Sisters. And with the holiday season fast approaching, Lola decides it’s time to stir up some extra excitement. Plotting in secret and online, Lola thinks it would be fun to invite a select group of strangers to stay at the motel for Christmas. Will these guests become friends, ignite sparks, fall in love? As she counts down the days until their arrival, Lola’s own family dramas threaten to upend her best-laid plans. Yet amid moments of humor, heartache, and unexpected twists of fate, Lola finds that she’s the one who’s in for the biggest surprise of all. “[Monica] McInerney’s assured writing sparkles. . . . When you reach the end, [Lola’s Secret] will leave you feeling like you’ve been given a huge, warm hug.”—Hello! magazine “A delicate treat . . . a lovely, gentle story of a family, a Christmas, love and different kinds of adventure.”—The Courier-Mail (Australia) “Exploring universal family issues of loss, rivalry, aging and grief, [Lola’s Secret] is a warm, witty and moving novel.”—Woman’s Day (Australia) Look for special features inside. Join the Circle for author chats and more.

Download or read book Sleepovers written by Jacqueline Wilson and published by Random House. This book was released on 2008-09-04 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You're invited to the ultimate sleepover! Amy, Bella, Chloe, Daisy and Emily are friends at school and have their own Alphabet Club (just look at their initials!). Daisy is the newest member and is desperate to fit in, even though Chloe is very unfriendly to her at times. When the girls begin planning sleepover parties for their birthdays, Daisy is dreading her own - she doesn't know what her friends will make of her older sister . . .

Download or read book The Alphabet Sisters Special Edition written by Monica McInerney and published by Penguin Group Australia. This book was released on 2011-07-27 with total page 451 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Includes sneak preview of Monica's new book Lola's Secret. By the bestselling author of At Home with the Templetons Sisters are always there for each other... aren't they? Anna, Bett and Carrie were childhood singing stars - the Alphabet Sisters. As adults they haven't spoken for years. Not since Bett's fiancé left her for another sister . . . Now Lola, their larger-than-life grandmother, summons them home for a birthday extravaganza and a surprise announcement. But just as the rifts begin to close, the Alphabet Sisters face a test none of them ever imagined. An unforgettable story of three women who learn that being true to themselves means being true to each other. 'Tender and well-observed . . . there is also plenty of McInerney's trademark wit, but have the hankies ready for this, probably her best novel yet.' Irish Independent 'McInerney is a dab hand at getting her characters exactly right. They are utterly believable, often loveable and familiar.' West Australian 'A gentle and life-affirming story. We come away feeling better about the world and, maybe, just a little more tender towards those close to us.' Sydney Morning Herald 'You'll be laughing out loud one minute and crying the next.' Cosmopolitan

Download or read book The Dangers of Proximal Alphabets written by Kathleen Alcott and published by Other Press, LLC. This book was released on 2012-09-11 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An extraordinary debut novel that challenges the definition of family and explores the intricate ties that bind us together Ida grew up with Jackson and James—where there was “I” there was a “J.” She can’t recall a time when she didn’t have them around, whether in their early days camping out in the boys’ room decorated with circus scenes or later drinking on rooftops as teenagers. While the world outside saw them as neighbors and friends, to each other the three formed a family unit—two brothers and a sister—not drawn from blood, but drawn from a deep need to fill a void in their single parent households. Theirs was a relationship of communication without speaking, of understanding without judgment, of intimacy without rules and limits. But as the three of them mature and emotions become more complex, Ida and Jackson find themselves more than just siblings. When Jackson’s somnambulism produces violent outbursts and James is hospitalized, Ida is paralyzed by the events that threaten to shatter her family and put it beyond her reach. Kathleen Alcott’s striking debut, The Dangers of Proximal Alphabets, is an emotional, deeply layered love story that explores the dynamics of family when it defies bloodlines and societal conventions.

Download or read book Miguel Street written by V. S. Naipaul and published by Vintage Canada. This book was released on 2012-11-13 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To the residents of Miguel Street, a derelict corner of Trinidad’s capital, their neighbourhood is a complete world, where everybody is quite different from everybody else. There’s Popo the carpenter, who neglects his livelihood to build “the thing without a name;” Man-man, who goes from running for public office to staging his own crucifixion; Big Foot, the dreaded bully with glass tear ducts; and the lovely Mrs. Hereira, in thrall to her monstrous husband. Their lives (and the legends their neighbours construct around them) are rendered by V. S. Naipaul with Dickensian verve and Chekhovian compassion in this tender, funny novel.

Download or read book The Godmothers written by Monica McInerney and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2021-01-21 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Perfect for fans of Cathy Kelly, Victoria Hislop and Lucinda Riley, The Godmothers is a heart-warming exploration of family, friendship and female bonds. ___________ In order to find out who her father is, Eliza has to discover who her mother truly was . . . As the only daughter of a troubled young mother, Eliza Miller's life was kept on track by the constant support of her godmothers Olivia and Maxie – until a tragic event just before her eighteenth birthday changed everything. Thirteen years later, Eliza is cautious, lonely, and dedicated to her work in Melbourne. Out of the blue, an enticing invitation from Olivia, now based in the UK, prompts a leap into the unknown. Eliza is thrown back into the centre of a complicated family, and the busy hotel they run in Edinburgh's West End. Amidst the chaos, Eliza unexpectedly begins to explore her past. Her godmothers have long been waiting for her to ask about her mother's mysterious life – and the identity of the father she has never known. But even they are taken by surprise with all that she discovers . . . If you loved The Godmothers, don't miss Monica McInerney's The House of Memories, available now in paperback. ___________ 'Absolutely beautiful . . . Intriguing and uplifting' Marian Keyes 'The perfect read!' Patricia Scanlan 'A feel-good read' The Sun 'Warm, wise and witty' Woman & Home 'You'll be laughing out loud one minute and crying the next' Cosmopolitan 'Heart-warming . . . A lovely read' Hello! Magazine 'McInerney is a must-read author for women's fiction fans around the world' Huffington Post 'The sort of feel-good read you long to get back to' Hilary Boyd, bestselling author of Thursdays In The Park 'Exploring universal family issues of loss, rivalry, ageing and grief, this is a warm, witty and moving novel' Woman's Day 'McInerney's bewitching multigenerational saga lavishly and lovingly explores the resiliency and fragility of family bonds' Booklist 'A world of family, love, warmth and heartbreaking secrets that will sweep you up . . . Superb' Books of all Kinds 'You'll be laughing in one breath, crying in the next . . . If you haven't discovered McInerney yet, now is the time to do so' Better Reading