Coming of Age

Happy Dreamsby Jia Pingwa

From one of China’s foremost authors, Jia Pingwa’s Happy Dreams is a powerful depiction of life in industrializing contemporary China, in all its humor and pathos, as seen through the eyes of Happy Liu, a charming and clever rural laborer who leaves his home for the gritty, harsh streets of Xi’an in search of better life.

After a disastrous end to a relationship, Hawa “Happy” Liu embarks on a quest to find the recipient of his donated kidney and a life that lives up to his self-given moniker. Traveling from his rural home in Freshwind to the city of Xi’an, Happy brings only an eternally positive attitude, his devoted best friend Wufu, and a pair of high-heeled women’s shoes he hopes to fill with the love of his life.

In Xi’an, Happy and Wufu find jobs as trash pickers sorting through the city’s filth, but Happy refuses to be deterred by inauspicious beginnings. In his eyes, dusty birds become phoenixes, the streets become rivers, and life is what you make of it. When he meets the beautiful Yichun, he imagines she is the one to fill the shoes and his Cinderella-esque dream. But when the harsh city conditions and the crush of societal inequalities take the life of his friend and shake Happy to his soul, he’ll need more than just his unrelenting optimism to hold on to the belief that something better is possible.

In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War IIby Rhys Bowen

“Instantly absorbing, suspenseful, romantic, and stylish–like binge-watching a great British drama on Masterpiece Theater.” –Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author

World War II comes to Farleigh Place, the ancestral home of Lord Westerham and his five daughters, when a soldier with a failed parachute falls to his death on the estate. After his uniform and possessions raise suspicions, MI5 operative and family friend Ben Cresswell is covertly tasked with determining if the man is a German spy. The assignment also offers Ben the chance to be near Lord Westerham’s middle daughter, Pamela, whom he furtively loves. But Pamela has her own secret: she has taken a job at Bletchley Park, the British code-breaking facility.

As Ben follows a trail of spies and traitors, which may include another member of Pamela’s family, he discovers that some within the realm have an appalling, history-altering agenda. Can he, with Pamela’s help, stop them before England falls?

Inspired by the events and people of World War II, writer Rhys Bowen crafts a sweeping and riveting saga of class, family, love, and betrayal.

Sweet Hollow Womenby Holly Tierney-Bedord

"Holly Tierney-Bedord's multi-generational story invites the reader to fall in love with the ladies of the Busey clan. Told in multiple points of view, the author developed a book with a heartwarming story that evoked many emotions. I really enjoyed reading this book and taking my time."–Terri A. Wilson
"With a writing style reminiscent of Flannery O'Connor, Tierney-Bedord weaves a compelling saga rich with passion, angst, humor, and hope. A must-read that won't let you go, even after the last page."–Award-winning author Geralyn Corcillo
As part of a family where life happens to you, fifteen-year-old Carasine Busey is devastated but not surprised when her family drops everything in Sweet Hollow, Louisiana to follow her dad's shaky career as a welder. It's not especially shocking, either, when he abandons them all shortly after they settle into their new home in the city.
Carasine, her mom Rhonda, and the rest of the Busey clan have adapted to roll with the punches. From Rhonda's secret broken heart to Great-Great-Grandpa Jimbo's eccentric failed dreams, Carasine and her family are used to disappointment.
It's not until Carasine gets a second chance with an unlikely pair of long-lost relatives that she realizes her path in life might be up to her to navigate. Being their flesh and blood convinces her that there may be some hope for her after all.

Young Babylonby Lu Nei

Knowing nothing more than the working-class life he is born into, headstrong Lu Xiaolu reluctantly starts down the path he is expected to follow. At age nineteen in 1990s China, he feels pressure to follow suit with those around him and takes a job at the town’s saccharin factory. Slowly, he adjusts to the bureaucratic factory routine, making the best of the situation by bonding with coworkers, flirting with girls, and refusing to give in completely to the expectations of those around him.

As Lu Xiaolu finds his way, a startling portrait of an economically expanding China comes into view; the propaganda of a common goal gives way to a bottom-line system that he sees as indifferent to individual happiness. But thanks to the relationships he develops, Lu Xiaolu decides to fight for the life he wants.

My Father’s Best Friendby Ali Parker

From USA Today Best Selling Author, Ali Parker…

Everyone seems to be in love but me. Why is that?

Relationship after relationship and nothing.

I'm always the bridesmaid, but never the bride.

It's getting old. Fast.

And just at the moment I start to give up, he walks into my life.

Sexy, strong, older. One of my students' father.

It's against the rules to feel the way I do about him, but I can't help myself.

A single father with a sexy demeanor and deep pockets.

But that's not what gets me about him.

It's the way he looks at me. As if he already owns me.

The relationship can be our little secret.

Or can it?

Baitby Colleen Charles

Sexy East Coast playboy, Nolan Banks, is disturbing my perfectly buttoned-up life. He sleeps with celebrities, jets around the globe and thumbs his nose at the tabloids.

And every time he gets drunk and photographed with some random harlot claiming she’s pregnant with his love child, I get the call.

Clean it up, Charlie.

Nolan’s mess.

You see, I’m Charlene de Monaco, Nolan’s corporate attorney.

Then he went and did it. Something so outrageous his daddy can’t buy him out of it. I can’t even lawyer him out of it. His only hope for redemption is pretending to straighten up and fly right. To act like he’s in love with one woman. Committed. Monogamous.

It’s a solid strategy.

Except for one fatal flaw.

He picks me.

Daddy 3.0: A Comedy of Errorsby Rob Armstrong

2017 Independent Author Network Winner – Best Comedy / Satire Novel

What a mess. This was not supposed to happen.

This isn’t where Nick Owen thought he would be by this point in life. He used to be a busy web programmer. Now he spends most of his energy trying to stop his three-year-old twins from playing in a dirty sand pit. Nick thinks of himself as Daddy 3.0, a stay-at-home-dad–but he just wasn’t programmed for this.

He must navigate a new world of jungle gyms and playdates while supporting his surgeon wife. He tries his best to be there for the twins, but he can’t stop making a mess of things. He’s just about nearing the end of his rope when the Swing Incident happens. The Swing Incident, spoken of in hushed tones around Nick’s New York City apartment building, has caused the resident queen bee, nicknamed “Supermom,” to declare him an enemy for life. No matter what Nick does to get back into Supermom’s good graces, he fails spectacularly.

Now Nick’s going to have to learn to fight fire with fire and become the best superparent on the block. This hilarious new book by Rob Armstrong chronicles one man’s journey into the world of modern fatherhood–one botched haircut, playground fight, and dirty diaper at a time.

Stay-at-home-dads have a new hero, of sorts.

A Kindle Unlimited Comedy

Amazon Reviews

“This book is great I could not put it down.”

“You have to love a dad who is just doing his best to keep home and kids under control AND keep his wife happy.”

“This was incredibly enjoyable and made me feel a bond with the author. This is a simple, quick read, that is thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.”

“You will laugh out loud, as you can absolutely picture the scenes. Anyone who has kids, whether a dad or mom, will relate with these experiences and thoroughly enjoy the ride.”

“This novel, rich with detail and wit, brings the characters to life. I feel like I know Nick Owen and his chaotic children. Armstrong brilliantly chronicles the evolution of a man and his relationships. A must read!”

Other Reader Reviews

“Hilarious daddy 3.0..story about a computer geek turned stay at home dad..the best part someone asks towards the end, my husband is the oldest version 1.0, where can I upgrade him cheap..wish the author would have given a link for the upgrade” – Mathangi Sri, India

“It did not take me long to read this book simply because, once started, I didn’t want to stop reading. The only thing slowing me down were the tears in my eyes from laughing so much. The situational comedy was absolutely hilarious. I kept thinking, “I’d love to see this movie.” The quality of the writing added to the reading pleasure. If this is the first book, I look forward to his second, third and more.” – Chuck Hossack, PA

Time Is Irreverentby Marty Essen

An irreverent, twisty, time travel comedy!
What if you could make a change to history that would eliminate the Spanish Inquisition, American slavery, World War II, global warming, and an egomaniacal US president who thought he was smart enough to drop nuclear bombs here and there without negative consequences? What if that change also made the United States and 5 billion people poof from existence? Would you do it? When alien time travel specialists, the Krichards, learn of President Handley's game of dodge the mushroom cloud, they race to Earth to investigate. For them, the question of whether it's worth it to change history is easy to answer, but they will only proceed if the human they deem best qualified to represent Earth agrees to make the change. Erasing Handley's nuclear annihilation would require a quick jump to AD 31 to make a simple correction to the past. If the Krichards had selected a brilliant scientist or an elite athlete for the task, Earth might be in good hands. Instead they selected Marty Mann, a mildly successful travel writer, whose only superpower is not taking life too seriously. What could possibly go wrong? Spanning from the Cretaceous period to 2056, Time is Irreverent is a hilarious, thought-provoking satire, with unpredictable twists, colorful aliens, huge dinosaurs, a smokin' hot lesbian from the future, and a cameo from Jesus Christ himself!

My Seductive Innocentby Julie Johnstone

Miss Sophia Vane, a wallflower of sorts, makes an unlikely match when she weds Nathaniel Ellison, the rich and wary Duke of Scarsdale. What starts with an unexpected friendship soon blooms into a fiery passion. But a betrayal plunges Sophia into the thorny world of London Society and entangles her in a labyrinth of manipulation and jealousy that will test the strength of her marriage. Behind her husband’s sudden icy facade, Sophia believes dwells the caring, passionate man she loves. To break through the barriers and reclaim their happiness, they must do more than simply cast away their pride. They must fight for their very lives.

Book two in the Regency historical romance series: Once Upon A Rogue.

“A dynamically written book with passion and great characters. And engrossing read.” USA Today best-selling Author Christi Caldwell.

A steamy, suspenseful Regency Romance by USA Today best-selling author Julie Johnstone.

Love Tiesby Em Petrova

You can take the motorcycle chick out of the club, but she’ll always come back.

When her momma saddled her with a name like Ever, she didn’t have a prayer of a normal life. Mix in a motorcycle club and a lot of rough adoptive fathers, and Ever is raised not to take any flack. Five years ago, she battled her way out of the Life, got a degree and a good job. The only thing that would bring her back to Heller’s Gap and within range of her ex is revenge.

Jamison’s motorcycle club doesn’t live, breathe, and ride for drugs and guns, unless they’re fighting to uncover the roots of the crimes. After years of watching his friends and loved ones die, Jamison’s only desire is to stop more of the trade from coming into Heller’s Gap. At least until he gets an eye–and hand–full of the redheaded vixen, Ever.

In spite of the world she hates, Ever can’t stay away from the god dressed in black leather. When he discovers she’s practically MC royalty, and that she’s being hunted by her ex and his gang, Jamison’s instincts to protect rev to new speeds. He’d do just about anything to keep her, even help her get the revenge she craves…if it doesn’t break him first.