A luxurious yacht in the Sea of Cortez, a birthday cruise for one of the world's most beautiful women and an invitation no one can refuse. "The Power Trip--"take if it you dare. From Hollywood icon and mega-seller Jackie Collins comes a thrilling new novel, "The Power Trip," set on a state of the art luxury yacht off the coast of Cabo San Lucas. A tropical getaway with a cast of global power-hungry elites turns sour when they find out maybe they don't control as much of the world as they thought . . . In "The Power Trip" you will meet Aleksandr Kasianenko, a billionaire Russian oligarch, as he sets sail on "The Bianca." You'll meet his sexy supermodel girlfriend, whom "The Bianca" is named after, and five dynamic, powerful, and famous couples invited on the yacht's maiden voyage: Hammond Patterson, a driven Senator, and his lovely but unhappy wife, Sierra; Cliff Baxter, a charming, never-married movie star, and his ex-waitress girlfriend, Lori; Taye Sherwin, a famous black UK footballer and his interior designer wife, Ashley; Luca Perez, a male Latin singing sensation with his older decadent English boyfriend, Jeromy; and Flynn, a maverick journalist with his Asian renegade female friend, Xuan. You will also meet Russian mobster, Sergei Zukov, a man with a grudge against Aleksandr. And Sergei's Mexican beauty queen girlfriend, Ina, whose brother, Cruz, is a master pirate with orders to hold "The Bianca" and its illustrious rota of guests for ransom. "The Power Trip" explorers the decadent playgrounds of the super-rich . . . and leaves you hungry for more.

StoryCorps founder Dave Isay shares stories of love and marriage from the revolutionary oral history project, revealing the many and remarkable paths that relationships can take. From the excitement of courtship to the deep connection of lifelong commitment, we discover that love is found in the most unexpected of places and witness the life-affirming joy of partnership, the comfort of shared sorrows, and profound gratitude in the face of loss.

The Kempton-Wace Letters was a 1903 epistolary novel written jointly by Americans Jack London and Anna Strunsky, then based in San Francisco, California. The novel presents a discussion of the philosophy of love and sex, written in the form of a series of letters between two men, "Herbert Wace," a young scientist, and "Dane Kempton," an elderly poet. Writer Jack London wrote "Wace's" letters, and Anna Strunsky wrote "Kempton's." In the late 19th century, the authors were part of a San Francisco radical literary group known as "The Crowd."Kempton makes the case for feeling and emotion, while Wace proceeds "scientifically" and analyzes love in Darwinian terms:

A man in his late twenties goes to a large Christmas party in Manhattan where a woman introduces herself with three words: "I am Clara." Over the following seven days, they meet every evening at the same cinema. Overwhelmed yet cautious, he treads softly and won't hazard a move. The tension between them builds gradually, marked by ambivalence, hope, and distrust. They move both closer together and farther apart, culminating on New Year's Eve in a final scene charged with magic and the promise of renewal.

"A man and a woman meet over casual conversation on a flight from Paris to London, and so begins a love story--from fist kiss to first argument, elation to heartbreak, and everything in between. Each stage of the relationship is illuminated with starling clarity, as de Botton explores emotions often felt but rarely understood. Now, in tandem with the arrival of The Course of Love--de Botton's first novel in twenty years and one about mature love--we celebrate the timeless debut about young love that serves as The Course of Love's precursor and companion."--

New York Times bestselling author M. J. Rose’s “wondrously original” ( Providence Journal ) suspense novel featuring perfumer Jac L’Etoile “combines fascinating history, torrid romance, and a compelling mystery” ( Associated Press ). Florence, Italy—1533: An orphan named René le Florentin is plucked from poverty to become not only the greatest perfumer in the country, but also the most dangerous, creating deadly poisons for his Queen, Catherine de Medici, to use against her rivals. But while mixing herbs and essences under the light of flickering candles, René can’t begin to imagine the tragic and personal consequences for which his lethal potions will be responsible. Paris, France—The Present: Renowned mythologist Jac L’Etoile becomes obsessed with René le Florentin—who may have been working on an elixir that would unlock the secret to immortality. Together with her estranged lover, Griffin, they confront an eccentric heiress in possession of a world-class art collection, a woman who has her own dark purpose for the elixir…and believes the end will justify her deadly means. Fiery and lush, set against deep, wild forests and dimly lit chateaus, this gothic tale zigzags from the violent days of Catherine de Medici’s court to twenty-first-century France. Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants , raves about the book: “Mysterious, magical, and mythical. What a joy to read!”

Transgender author Agnes Borinsky deftly explores gender identity and queer romance in this heart-wrenching debut novel. Alex feels like he is in the wrong body. His skin feels strange against his bones. And then comes Tracy, who thinks he's adorably awkward, who wants to kiss him, who makes him feel like a Real Boy. But it is not quite enough. Something is missing. As Alex grapples with his identity, he finds himself trying on dresses and swiping on lipstick in the quiet of his bedroom. He meets Andre, a gay boy who is beautiful and unafraid to be who he is. Slowly, Alex begins to realize: maybe his name isn't Alex at all. Maybe it's Sasha Masha.

First there's Denver Jones, the hotshot attorney working in L.A. and Carolyn Henderson - personal assistant to a powerful and very married Senator in Washington with whom she is having an affair. Then there's Annabelle Maestro - daughter of two movie stars - who has carved out a career for herself in New York as the madame of choice for discerning famous men. The three twenty-something women used to go to high school together in Beverly Hills and Denver and Carolyn have always kept in touch, but Annabelle is out on her own with her cocaine addicted boyfriend Frankie. Bobby is Frankie's best friend - Bobby Santangelo Stanislopolous, that is, Kennedy-esque son of Lucky Santangelo and deceased Greek shipping billionaire Dimitri Stanislopolous. He went to high school with Denver, Carolyn and Annabelle, and hung out with all three of them. Which means that Bobby knows everyone's secrets - and he has some of his own, too.

Love. Beauty. Success. Lucky has everything her name implies. And as the force behind a high- profile casino and hotel complex, The Keys in Vegas, Lucky has exactly what billionaire businessman Armand Jordan is determined to take from her—and he's not afraid to play dirty. Born a prince in a small but affluent Middle Eastern country, Armand came to America at an early age and grew up to become a real estate titan. Convinced that no woman would have the courage to stand up to him in business, he is shocked to learn that Lucky would dare to turn down his offer to buy The Keys. And so the battle for power begins... Meantime, Lucky's club-owner son Bobby is dealing with shady Russian investors. Max, her teenage daughter, is busy embarking on an affair with a sexy young movie star—and doing everything she can to keep it a secret from her mother. It's business as usual for the Santangelo clan... But this time, it just might take more than Lady Luck for them all to come out on top.

Strong, sexy women are the lifeblood of Jackie Collins's novels, and The Love Killers takes this to a bold new level! Famed activist Margaret Lawrence Brown had always been a staunch advocate for women through her Free Women Now organization, especially for sex workers in New York City. When Margaret is shockingly murdered during one of her women's empowerment lectures, three of her nearest and dearest step in with an insatiable desire to destroy the lives of those responsible. The result: a bloodbath of sexual mayhem through the lethal corridors of organized crime. Three beautiful women set out to prove that when it comes to revenge, the female is far deadlier than the male -- especially when they're The Love Killers...

"Welcome to Heaven, Inc., the grossly mismanaged corporation in the sky. For as long as anyone can remember, the founder and CEO (known in some circles as "God") has been phoning it in. Lately, he's been spending most of his time on the golf course. And when he does show up at work, it's not to resolve wars or end famines, but to Google himself and read what humans have been blogging about him. When God decides to retire (to pursue his lifelong dream of opening an Asian Fusion restaurant), he also decides to destroy Earth. His employees take the news in stride, except for Craig and Eliza, two underpaid angels in the lowly Department of Miracles. Unlike their boss, Craig and Eliza love their jobs - uncapping city fire hydrants on hot days, revealing lost keys in snow banks - and they refuse to accept that earth is going under. The angels manage to strike a deal with their boss. He'll call off his Armageddon, if they can solve their toughest miracle yet: getting the two most socially awkward humans on the planet to fall in love. With doomsday fast approaching, and the humans ignoring every chance for happiness thrown their way, Craig and Eliza must move heaven and earth to rescue them - and the rest of us, too." -- back cover

WINNER - Speech Pathology Australia Upper Primary 2007 SHORTLISTED - REAL Children's Choice Awards 2008 The truth is . . . Thomas has an embarrassing secret. Is it a rare and special gift or the worst thing that could happen to a boy? When Thomas is faced with an itchy problem that he thinks is the most embarrassing secret he's ever had, he doesn't know is that this problem will lead him on an epic journey from Australia to Paris, filled with laughter, friendship, and self-discovery. Throughout the story, Thomas will encounter challenges and obstacles, but with the help of his best friends, he'll learn that there is no such thing as an embarrassing secret, and that everyone's quirks make them unique and special. Doubting Thomas is a touching and entertaining portrayal of childhood and the power of friendship and self-acceptance, making it a must-read for all ages. ------------------ PRAISE FOR MORRIS GLEITZMAN 'Readers can't get enough of him.' The Independent 'A brilliantly funny writer' Sunday Telegraph 'A virtuoso demonstration of how you can make comedy out of the most unlikely subject' Sunday Times 'He is one of the finest examples of a writer who can make humour stem from the things that really matter in life.' The Guardian

In an ideal world, they never would have met. Vivien Simpson is a happy stay-at-home mom with a young son who adores her successful husband. Edward Davis is an ambitious aide to an important Congressman who loves his wife. When a plane crash brings about the discovery that their supposedly loving and now deceased spouses were entangled in a deeply passionate love affair, they are devastated and baffled by the revelation. Determined to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, they embark on a hunt for the truth behind their spouses' infidelity, guided only by the two mysterious identical keys they left behind. Along the way what they discover about themselves and the mysterious nature of love will render readers breathless. The enduring romance novel that inspired the Hollywood film starring Harrison Ford.

The seven stories collected here showcase McCarthy's formidable powers of observation, her deliciously witty writing style, and her celebrated talent for dissecting characters with biting acuity. A young woman looks for subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways to escape her unsatisfying marriage; an innocuous single man's friends realize his companionship has an enormous price; and an Italian guide puzzles a traveling pair of Americans.

The return of a beloved classic, from the bestselling author of The Princess Bride ! “This inventive, offbeat fable has a touch of magic about it.”— Los Angeles Times Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days—and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing. No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No one, it seems, but S. Morgenstern. Now Morgenstern recounts the sad and noble story of the ambitions, frustrations, and eventual triumph of Luigi, the gondolier with the gooney smile. Here, in this brilliantly illustrated exposition of the surprising facts behind this all-but-forgotten mystery, S. Morgenstern reveals the fascinating truths about John the Bastard, Laura Lorenzini, the centenarian Cristaldi the Pickle, Enrico Caruso, Porky XII, the Great Sorrento, the Queen of Corsica—and, of course, the one and only Luigi. His tale will captivate you as much as his song! “Where The Princess Bride was lightheartedly brutal, this story is gently whimsical, well-complemented by Paul Giovanopoulos’s zany drawings.”— San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle

An intimately charged novel of desire and disaster from the National Book Award-winning author of Trust Exercise and Flashlight Regina Gottlieb had been warned about Professor Nicholas Brodeur long before arriving as a graduate student at his prestigious university high on a pastoral hill. He’s said to lie in the dark in his office while undergraduate women read couplets to him. He’s condemned on the walls of the women’s restroom, and enjoys films by Roman Polanski. But no one has warned Regina about his exceptional physical beauty—or his charismatic, volatile wife. My Education is the story of Regina’s mistakes, which only begin in the bedroom, and end—if they do—fifteen years in the future and thousands of miles away. By turns erotic and completely catastrophic, Regina’s misadventures demonstrate what can happen when the chasm between desire and duty is too wide to bridge.

"This love story is heartrending, swoon-worthy, and extremely well-told." --Publishers Weekly, starred review A man who's been moving his whole life finally finds a reason to stay put. Charlie Matheson has spent his life taking care of things. When his parents died two days before his eighteenth birthday, he took care of his younger brother, even though that meant putting his own dreams on hold. He took care of his father's hardware store, building it into something known several towns over. He took care of the cat he found in the woods...so now he has a cat. When a stranger with epic tattoos and a glare to match starts coming into Matheson's Hardware, buying things seemingly at random and lugging them off in a car so beat-up Charlie feels bad for it, his instinct is to help. When the man comes in for the fifth time in a week, Charlie can't resist intervening. Rye Janssen has spent his life breaking things. Promises. His parents' hearts. Leases. He isn't used to people wanting to put things back together--not the crumbling house he just inherited, not his future and certainly not him. But the longer he stays in Garnet Run, the more he can see himself belonging there. And the more time he spends with Charlie, the more he can see himself falling asleep in Charlie's arms...and waking up in them. Is this what it feels like to have a home--and someone to share it with? Carina Adores is home to romantic love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters. Garnet Run Book 1: Better Than People Book 2: Best Laid Plans Book 3: The Lights on Knockbridge Lane

Natalie Savage grew up focusing her ambition on her reporting career instead of her personal life. Now her efforts are paying off. Offered the title of White House correspondent--temporarily--she knows she has the grit, the principles, the news sense to succeed. But first she must compete with a vacuous, popular frat boy for the position. Navigating rating wars, sexual harassment and an international political crisis to prove herself, Natalie begins to wonder if achieving her dreams really means compromising on everything she stands for. This juicy insider's take on the fraught role of today's press tackles head-on the #MeToo movement as well as the delicate dance between trying to hold truth to power and combating disingenuous charges of fake news.

In a time when steak, vodka, and Benzedrine were the three main staples of a healthy diet, when high-powered executives called each other "baby" and movie stars wore wigs to bed, network tycoons had a name for the TV set: they called it "the love machine." But to supermodel Amanda, socialite Judith, and journalist Maggie, "the love machine" meant something else: Robin Stone, "a TV-network titan around whom women flutter like so many moths. . . . The novel deals with his rise and fall as he makes the international sex scene (orgying in London, transvestiting in Hamburg), drinks unlimited quantities and checks out the latest Nielsens." (Newsweek)

"A Stone for Danny Fisher" is an early masterpiece by Harold Robbins, who went on to become one of the most popular and most financially successful writers of all time. The early part of this book seems to be almost autobiographical, as Harold Robbins himself grew up as a poor Jewish boy who first went to work at age 15 to support his family and then held numerous low level jobs until he found his true calling as a millionaire writer and movie producer. A Stone for Danny Fischer is now most famous for being made into a 1958 movie starring Elvis Presley. The movie is entitled "King Carole" and all critics agree that this is by far the greatest acting performance by Elvis. Elvis has to play a complex and conflicted character, quite unlike the typical Elvis movies where Elvis sings while a bevy of girls swoon over him. Few novelists know the seamy side of New York as well as Harold Robins - the terror of the streets, the ways to make a shady buck by playing along with gamblers and mobsters, the unbridled lusts and passions of slum life. But his new hero does not start at the bottom. Instead, Danny Fischer, born into a family of modest means and respectability is gradually driven downward into the world of crime racketeering and poverty. His bitterness, his loneliness over the loss of the house in Brooklyn that was given to him for his eighth birthday, and his feud with his harsh father pull him one way, his natural decency and love for a sweet Italian girl, Nellie Petito, pull him another. Danny might have been one of the boys caught in the recent basketball scandal, though actually he is a boxer - a sensational amateur and potential champ. Later he becomes deeply involved in war time black markets and then in vending-machine rackets. Here Mr. Robbins reveals a little-known side of underworld life. But the driving force behind Danny's actions always is his sustaining love for Nellie. In a story that is harsh and yet tender, realistic and yet compassionate, Robbins reveals what makes the Danny Fishers what they are.