On a quiet night in the best part of Greenwich, Connecticut, eight people assemble for a convivial dinner. But after that night, their lives will never be the same, as death erupts into their lives. They are a disparate group, including a former State Department employee, a Catholic nun, a linguistics professor, and a successful novelist. They, and the people they love, portray the arrogance and innocence, brutality and compassion in America today. Each character becomes a thread-dark, light, or a shade in between-in a carpet of intricate design, and as Howard Fast weaves them together, they embody the interdependence of human life and human guilt and the eternal work of redemption.

From the internationally renowned author of In a Different Voice, a remarkable debut novel: a love story that introduces an unforgettable character in modern fiction, Kyra, and a superb new fiction writer, Carol Gilligan. Kyra is an architect designing a new city, a woman of humor and courage living in a vibrant world of family, friends, and colleagues and determined to break out of old structures. When she meets Andreas, a director staging an innovative production of Tosca, neither wants to fall in love–and yet, inevitably, they do. Their story takes us from Cambridge and an island off the coast of Massachusetts to Vienna, Thailand, Cyprus, and Wales as Kyra seeks the deepest truths about herself, other people, loyalty, and love. This reaching leads her to commit singular acts that startle and shock, inspiring new freedom for others as well as for Kyra herself. Rich with Carol Gilligan’s signature gifts–emotional wisdom, subtle renderings of the intricacies of human relationship, conflict and choice, and lyrical prose–Kyra is a luminous, magnificent novel by a writer realizing the range of her powers.

In 2425 London, most of which is underwater, Rafe and Jule, members of warring Houses, must keep their love a secret to survive, but their lives become even more complicated when mysterious foreigners arrive on shore.

A daring novel that shocked the Jazz Age-and still burns with truth today. In Bad Girl, Viña Delmar rips the glittering mask off 1920s romance and exposes the real heartbeat of a generation caught between desire, convention, and survival. In roaring-era New York City, a young woman refuses to play by society's rules. She wants love-but she also wants freedom, respect, and a life that belongs to her alone. When Dorothy, a working-class shop girl with a wild streak, falls for Eddie, a man as stubborn and passionate as she is, their story explodes into a storm of love, pride, independence, and consequence. Beneath the flapper sparkle and jazz-club heat lies a deeply modern struggle: how far can a woman go to live life on her own terms before the world calls her a bad girl? First published in 1928, Bad Girl became an instant bestseller and scandal, earning Delmar both fame and controversy. Banned in some cities and celebrated in others, it was later adapted into an Oscar-winning Hollywood film-one of the first movies to portray love and marriage with raw honesty and emotional depth. Rediscovered today, this lost feminist classic captures the power and vulnerability of women carving out identity in a rapidly changing world. Bad Girl speaks directly to fans of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker, Anita Loos, and Edna Ferber-readers who crave authentic emotion, smart social commentary, and unforgettable storytelling.

Ready to follow Nick Hornsby and Helen Fielding as the next big thing from Cool Britannia to hit America is Ben Elton. Already known to a wide public television audience as the funnyman behind Blackadder, The Young Ones, and The Thin Blue Line, Elton, author of Popcorn , lights up the literary sky with Blast from the Past . Part noir thriller, part hilarious send-up of the politics of extremism, Blast from the Past is the new novel from English comedy phenomenon (stand-up, playwright, television writer, and author) Ben Elton--a name soon to be known in all circles once Joel Schumacher's film of his book Popcorn reaches the silver screen. In the early 80s, when Polly was a seventeen-year-old ideological peace protestor and Jack was a U.S. Army captain stationed at England's Greenham Common, the two had a secret and very unlikely affair. No two people could have had more to argue about, save that they couldn't live without each other, yet one day Jack came to the conclusion that he loved soldiering more than Polly and sacrificed their love to be a career army man. Now, sixteen years later, Polly is a lonely thirty-something social services employee and Jack is a four-star general who has returned to Britain to find her, his only true love. With only one night to resolve their differences, and a knife-wielding stalker lurking in the shadows, for everyone concerned this will be a night like no other. From the Hardcover edition.

This is the author's first novel, which relates the experiences of a young bohemian intellectual. The six episodes create a fascinating portrait of a New York social circle of the 1930s. McCarthy's bold insight and virtuoso style won her immediate recognition as one of the most accomplished, versatile, and penetrating writers in americanca.

Run away with me is a profoundly romantic YA novel about two teenage boys finding each other and falling in love over one summer in Rome.

In this powerfully moving novel, bestselling novelist Alice Hoffman paints a vivid portrait of the lives of three generations in a family separated by loneliness, hope, and betrayal. Esther the White is the cold matriarch who fled a cruel life in Russia only to rule lovelessly over her own family in an isolated compound on Long Island. Phillip is the son she cannot understand, a man with an overwhelming desire to drown himself in the ocean's inviting waters every summer. Phillip's daughter is barely eighteen and desperate to escape the confines of this isolated world and her grandmother's harsh critiscim. But as Phillip's suicidal urges grow stronger and as outside forces threaten to destroy the family, they must come together to dispel the lifetime of secrets that have kept them apart--or lose everything. This spellbinding novel is a brialliant evocation of the ghosts that haunt all families and a touching testament to the redemptive power of love.

In 1955, New York Times bestselling novelist Harold Robbins shocked the world by pulling back the bedroom curtain to expose America's complicated and controversial relationship with the power of female sexuality. The concept was stunning, salacious... and breathtaking--a story not only built entirely upon the premise of illicit sex, but from a woman's point of view, as she uses it to rise to a position of power and wealth in a man's world. It was a seminal moment, and the literary world would never be the same. Fate, love, power, and sex collide in the halls of justice in New York City as ADA Mike Keyes comes face-to-face with his lifelong love, MaryAnn Flood, the city's most notorious--to say nothing of dangerous--madame. Before she was a tabloid celebrity with a little black book full of the names, though, Marja Fluudjincki was a shy young girl who captured his heart and never let it go. In the years since, she's parlayed her beauty into power and position as the head of 79 Park Avenue, an escort service catering to the rich and powerful under the guise of an upscale modeling agency. Now, with Marja on trial and Mike the prosecutor assigned to her case, they both face the biggest challenge of their lives. Is she still capable of love after sacrificing everything to claw her way up from the mean streets to the penthouse? Can he--should he--set aside his personal feelings for the sake of justice? 79 Park Avenue is a story of unanswered, perhaps unanswerable, questions, for society as much as its brilliantly nuanced characters. Why is the promiscuous man celebrated while his female counterpart is shamed? How can we revel in the sexualization of women, yet respect them so little? How much progress have we really made in the battle of the sexes? More than 60 years after its original release, the story of MaryAnn Flood remains just as relevant today, and this, more than anything demonstrates the genius and talent of Harold Robbins.

In this stunning debut novella, Rebecca Walker turns her attention to the power of love and the limitations of the human heart. When Farida, a sophisticated college student, falls in love with Adé, a young Swahili man living on an idyllic island off the coast of Kenya, the two plan to marry and envision a simple life together--free of worldly possessions and concerns. But when Farida contracts malaria and finds herself caught in the middle of a civil war, reality crashes in around them. The lovers' solitude is interrupted by a world in the throes of massive upheaval that threatens to tear them apart, along with all they cherish. Haunting, exquisite, and certain to become a classic, Adé will stay with you long after you put it down. This is a timeless love story set perfectly, heartbreakingly, in our time.

From the author of The New York Times #1 bestselling novel The Carpetbaggers comes the gutwrenching story of one woman's battle to break free of the male-dominated, sexual pay-to-play culture of Hollywood.... THE LONELY LADY JeriLee Randall is a young girl with dreams of being a writer. While she is discovering her own sexuality, she meets Walter Thornton, Jr., son of the world-famous playwright, Walter Thornton, Sr., whom she idolizes. After a humiliating "near" sexual encounter with JeriLee, Walt, Jr. participates in a brutal assault that traumatizes her and triggers unfettered chaos in their small, gossipy town. Trying to make amends for the deplorable behavior of his son, Walt's father befriends JeriLee. Despite their age difference the two become close and eventually marry. Inevitably, their union unravels, and JeriLee embarks on a path of sexual liberation in her pursuit of success-from stints in sleazy strip clubs to rendezvous on the casting couches of Hollywood moguls and eventually to the twilight world of drugs-moving restlessly from man to man and woman to woman. Can she find success in a brutal world while retaining her dignity, honesty, and the self-respect developed in her youth? As she struggles to retain her dreams of stardom, can her strength and cunning save her from Hollywood's death grip, allowing her to beat the smooth talking power players at their own game? When it was originally published in 1976, The Lonely Lady spent 24 weeks on the bestseller list, turning Hollywood on its ear. Could anyone have predicted then that JeriLee's story would still be so shockingly relevant over forty years later?

Step into the enchanting world of "The Bishop's Wife" by Robert Nathan, the classic novel that inspired the beloved Christmas film featuring Cary Grant and Loretta Young - and later adapted as The Preacher's Wife starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney B. Vance. Bishop Henry Brougham faces dual challenges—a burning desire to erect a grand cathedral for his overflowing parish and a lack of a suitable archdeacon to fund the ambitious project. As if providence intervenes, his prayers are answered with the arrival of Michael, a radiant angel with golden hair, taking on the role of archdeacon. However, the story unfolds beyond the ecclesiastical duties, delving into the intricacies of Bishop Brougham's marriage to the beautiful Julia. While she dutifully fulfills her marital obligations, the spark of passion is missing. The celestial presence of Michael brings a new dimension to their lives, awakening unexpected emotions in Julia with his boundless love. Yet, Michael grapples with the constraints of earthly responsibilities, involving financial manipulation from wealthy patrons. As the holiday season approaches, the narrative takes an intriguing turn, exploring the delicate balance between divine love and earthly commitments. The bishop senses a magnetic attraction between Julia and the angelic Michael. Will the purity of divine love lead Julia astray, or will the bonds of marital duty triumph? "The Bishop's Wife" weaves a tale of love, duty, and the transcendent magic of the holiday season, leaving readers captivated by the timeless narrative.

Comedy Joseph Fields and Peter de Vries adapted from the novel by Mr. de Vries Characters: 2 male 4 female Interior Set Tom Ewell played the Broadway part of a suburban husband in a 5 year childless marriage. He and his wife decide to adopt a baby but a loud mouth neighbor upsets the apple cart when the adoption investigator comes to call. However not to be outdone Ewell finds himself in the clutches of the investigator who has suddenly turned color. Later she announces that she is pregnant and is going off to have the baby. She will see that the man and his wife receive the child in due time through the agency. Shortly after the baby arrives however the wife learns of the matter and starts packing to go home to Mother. But it turns out that the adopted baby was not fathered by the husband and also that the wife is now herself pregnant; and matters are mended. "It offers laugh after laugh." N.Y. World Telegram & Sun.

Spiritualist and extortionist Patrick Seton is coming up for trial. He's been accused of forgery, and suddenly West London's bachelors are all in a tizzy. Described by Evelyn Waugh as the 'cleverest and most elegant of all Mrs Spark's clever and elegant books', The Bachelors is a biting comedy of English manners.This is one of the 22 novels written by Muriel Spark in her lifetime. All are being published by Polygon in hardback Centenary Editions between November 2017 and September 2018.

Reminiscent of the novels of Nora Ephron, this brilliantly written, hilariously touching tale explores a contemporary woman's quirky love life. Katinka O'Toole has discovered that a degree from Harvard does not always lead to fame and fortune. Divorced and struggling to make a living as a writer, the highlight of her day has become the arrival of the mail. Or, more precisely, the mailman. Yes, she hopes for an acceptance letter, but she also has a fierce crush on Louie Capetti, her gorgeous postal carrier, who she hopes will carry her away to romantic bliss. So while she has taken to receiving her mail in "discount Dior", she also has to deal with her pretentious ex-husband (a noted Joycean scholar), her class-conscious mother, the unwanted affections of a corporate lawyer, and various other roadblocks to true love that plague smart women in today's society.

Four-time Edgar Award-winning author Lawrence Block's definitive essay collection on the art of writing fiction For ten years, crime novelist Lawrence Block funneled his wealth of writing expertise into a monthly column for Writer's Digest. Collected here for the first time are those pieces illuminating the tricks of the authorial trade, from creating vibrant characters and generating seamless plots, to conquering writer's block and experimenting with self-publishing. Filled with wit and insight, The Liar's Bible is a must-read for experts, amateurs, and anyone interested in learning to craft great fiction from one of the field's modern masters. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lawrence Block, including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author's personal collection.

A funny and original novel about how to really get away from it all! You know life can't be going that well when getting hit by a car is the best thing that happens to you all week. But although not generally considered to be a Good Thing, for Jordan Landeua, desperate to escape her nightmare family, her dead-end job, and most of all her lying, cheating boyfriend, it's the perfect opportunity to start over. Coming to in hospital after the accident she decides to fake amnesia and reinvent herself. It's goodbye to Jordan the pushover and hello to the life she's always dreamed of. But then the unthinkable happens and she has to start over for real. Now Jordan must decide what (and who) honestly makes her happy and figure out how best to live a truly memorable life...

Warren Adler is the acclaimed author of 25 novels, published in 30 languages. Two of his books, "The War of the Roses" and "Random Hearts" were made into major motion pictures. He lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and New York City. Ken and Sheila Kramer have a comfortable life and loving marriage. But when Ken is introduced to Carol, the wife of his wife's major client, we discover that she is Ken's old flame, the love of his life and the object of his sexual obsession as a young man. Carol has totally reinvented herself and married a rich husband who has no knowledge of her early life. While unbeknownst to Ken, his wife is carrying on a steamy affair with her client, Carol's husband. When love and sexual obsession again bursts into flames between Ken and Carol, the plot of this masterful black comedy thickens as both couples embark on an African Safari with startling and tragic results. The author of The War of the Roses surpasses himself with this powerful novel of love and betrayal, sexual passion and emotional obsession. It is storytelling at its dramatic best and once again shows Warren Adler's indisputable mastery of contemporary marital relationships. "A masterpiece of gallows humor." .New York Daily News "Warren Adler does for infidelity and betrayal what his The War of the Roses did for incompatibility and greed. He has with delicious tension, carved out the state of matrimony as his exclusive theater of war." .Fred Mustard Stewart, author of The Glitter and the Gold "Adler at his steamy, schemey best if you enjoyed the nice nastiness of The War of the Roses, this is right up your dastardly alley. .Palm Springs Desert Sun

An intelligent erotic novel that explores intimacy outside the gender binary. "Underneath all the androgyny and fluctuation, the book's about human connection. Rosenthal's use of sex and gender identities to illustrate how we reach toward and away from relationships is merely a new approach to an old idea: We all need intimacy with others to deepen our understanding of ourselves."- Time Out Chicago. Matt is dating Rye, a willfully free androgynous school teacher. Attracted to Matt's kinkiness and groundedness, Rye develops a taste for his masculinity and their top-bottom dynamic. At a weekend SexxCamp retreat, Matt meets Rain, a charming and snarky twenty-something GenderQueer woman. An unconventional three-way relationship develops, expanding their understanding of polyamory, gender identity, love and connection. "I spent some time devouring Rye and really really enjoyed not only the story and the characters and the death snark, but also the way that Sam tackled the new thing about relationships. It's the same as it ever was, and it's not the same as it ever was. And that melds so beautifully in Rye. Thanks for the good read "- Carol Queen, The Center for Sex and Culture, San Francisco. Read the first few chapters of Rye by clicking on the book cover above, to 'Look Inside.' In Rye, Brooklyn-based musician Sam Rosenthal expands his horizons beyond Black Tape For A Blue Girl, with a novel that takes the reader on a steamy, snarky and erotic walk on the wild side. "Rye is as intellectually stimulating as erotically charged. As for the erotic content, I can't hope to list of all that is covered, toys, BDSM, roleplay, gender fluidity in sex... the list goes on. A sense of realism triumphs; don't expect to read erotica with paper-thin characters you are only meant to overlay with your own fantasies (although if some of the book's scenes push your fantasy buttons in a good way, that's great too ). With fully developed characters who struggle through relationships, gender, and sexuality in an erotic context, Rye, is a unique work; quite the refreshing read " - Marilyn Roxie, genderqueerid.com ryethenovel.com

From the woman who brought us Scruples , Dazzle , and Spring Collection comes a provocative new novel, a deeply moving mother-daughter tale set amid the elegance of a famed New York auction house and the glamour of Hollywood. A mother's secret... Tessa Kent, exquisite and precocious, gave birth to an illegitimate daughter when she was only fourteen. Her parents raised the infant, Maggie, as their own child, as Tessa went on to become an international movie star. Maggie lives for her glamorous "sister's" infrequent whirlwind visits. But when she accidentally learns the truth, eighteen-year-old Maggie breaks all ties with Tessa and starts to work at the famed Manhattan auction house of Scott & Scott. A daughter's fury... Five years later, a life-altering crisis makes Tessa passionately determined to end this estrangement. There's only one way Tessa can reach out to her daughter: a high-stakes auction of the immensely valuable collection of famed jewels lavished on her by her late husband. Tessa promises Scott & Scott the auction on the condition that Maggie and she work closely together on the sale. Tessa's whole future hangs in the balance--for she knows her happiness depends on what may be an impossible reconciliation....