Her Last Death begins as the phone rings early one morning in the Montana house where Susanna Sonnenberg lives with her husband and two young sons. Her aunt is calling to tell Susanna her mother is in a coma after a car accident. She might not live. Any daughter would rush the thousands of miles...  more

Her Last Death begins as the phone rings early one morning in the Montana house where Susanna Sonnenberg lives with her husband and two young sons. Her aunt is calling to tell Susanna her mother is in a coma after a car accident. She might not live. Any daughter would rush the thousands of miles to her mother's bedside. But Susanna cannot bring herself to go. Her courageous memoir explains why.  Glamorous, charismatic and a compulsive liar, Susanna's mother seduced everyone who entered her orbit. With outrageous behavior and judgment tinged by drug use, she taught her child the art of sex and the benefits of lying. Susanna struggled to break out of this compelling world, determined, as many daughters are, not to become her mother.  Sonnenberg mines tender and startling memories as she tells of her fierce resolve to forge her independence, to become a woman capable of trust, and to be a good mother to her own children. Her Last Death is riveting, disarming and stunningly told. Read by the author.  7 CDs; 8 hours.

Ricardo Arias is found dead, the gun still wedged in his mouth. It looks like suicide, but the physical evidence strongly suggests murder. The police investigation uncovers an estranged wife, Terri Peralta; an ugly custody battle over their six-year-old daughter, Elena; heated charges of child...  more

Ricardo Arias is found dead, the gun still wedged in his mouth. It looks like suicide, but the physical evidence strongly suggests murder. The police investigation uncovers an estranged wife, Terri Peralta; an ugly custody battle over their six-year-old daughter, Elena; heated charges of child abuse; and a murder suspect: San Francisco defense attorney Christopher Paget. Paget has motive--it's his son accused of abusing Elena, his political plans for the future put at risk by the dead man's accusations, and his alibi that is dangerously threadbare. And the shocking revelations that threaten to explode in the courtroom may remain hidden forever...by Chris Paget's refusal to testify on his own behalf...by Elena's tangled loyalties...and by dark secrets that some desperately wish to keep silent....

Free Fall: The loyal friends who make up the Sisterhood have gathered at Myra Rutledge?s beautiful Virginia home for the first time in a year. For one of their number, it?s an evening filled with anticipation. It will finally be time to tell her story - and for the Sisterhood to help plan her...  more

Free Fall: The loyal friends who make up the Sisterhood have gathered at Myra Rutledge?s beautiful Virginia home for the first time in a year. For one of their number, it?s an evening filled with anticipation. It will finally be time to tell her story - and for the Sisterhood to help plan her revenge. Yoko Akia?s mother was only fifteen when a wealthy man swept her off her feet with promises of love. Instead, he filled her brief life with horror and misery. Their target is none other than America?s favorite movie star. Hide and Seek: The Sisterhood?s last assignment almost landed them in jail. Now the women are fugitives with a bounty on their heads, but they?re not planning on hiding out for long. Mitch Riley, the ruthless assistant director of the FBI, intends to frame Cornelia ?Nellie? Easter, the judge who helped the Sisterhood evade prison, and their lawyer, Lizzie Fox, in order to save his own career. He?s created a special task force to hunt the Sisters down. He?s about to discover that he?s no match for seven formidable women with an unbreakable bond? Hokus Pokus: Supreme Court Chief Justice Pearl Barnes faces blackmail for her own illegal brand of justice. Now the Sisterhood must not only sneak back into the United States, but also remain undetected as they investigate. But how do you make seven women disappear? With a nosy reporter on the brink of exposing them, the clock is ticking as the Sisterhood tries to create a little magic ? and save the day?

David Wolfes life is approaching an exhilarating peak: a successful San Francisco lawyer, hes about to get married and has been primed for a run for Congress. But when the phone rings and he hears the voice of Hana Arifthe Palestinian woman with whom he had a passionate affair in law schoolhe...  more

David Wolfes life is approaching an exhilarating peak: a successful San Francisco lawyer, hes about to get married and has been primed for a run for Congress. But when the phone rings and he hears the voice of Hana Arifthe Palestinian woman with whom he had a passionate affair in law schoolhe begins a completely unexpected journey. The day after Hanas call, the Prime Minister of Israel is assassinated by a suicide bomber; soon, Hana herself is accused of being the mastermind behind the murder. Now David must make an agonizing decision: Will he, a Jew, represent Hanawho may well be guiltyor will he turn away a woman he can never forget? Ultimately Davids guest takes him to Israel and the West Bank, where, in a series of harrowing encounters, he learns that appearances are not at all what they seem. Read by Dennis Boutsikaris.  6 sound discs (7 hr.)

The Jury Even reeling from the loss of one of their own, the Sisterhood is always prepared to rally behind a new friend. For years, Paula Woodley has suffered the broken bones and shattered self-esteem caused by an abusive marriage. But what can she do? Her high-profile, Washington power-broker...  more

The Jury Even reeling from the loss of one of their own, the Sisterhood is always prepared to rally behind a new friend. For years, Paula Woodley has suffered the broken bones and shattered self-esteem caused by an abusive marriage. But what can she do? Her high-profile, Washington power-broker husband is not a man to be crossed. Or so he thinks. The Sisterhood may not be an organization found in any of his memos, but he?s about to take a meeting with them ? and they?ll be setting the agenda... Sweet Revenge Isabelle Flanders? former colleague, the conniving Rosemary, did everything in her power to ruin Isabelle, from framing her for a terrible drunk driving accident to stealing her husband and her architecture firm. Now, Isabelle?s formerly lovely life is in tatters while Rosemary scoops up the spoils. It?s enough to make any friend?s blood boil. Rosemary may think she?s flying high, but she?s about to tangle with the Sisterhood. Lethal Justice Alexis Thorn, once a successful securities broker, spent a hellish year behind bars for a crime she never committed. Now she has her freedom, but she?s left with haunting memories of being hauled from her office in handcuffs?of the cell door clanging shut behind her?of her pleas going unheard. Alexis dreams of getting even. The legal system failed her, but the Sisterhood won?t.

?With fresh plots, interesting characters, and vibrant settings, Jack Higgins has firmly cemented his reputation as one of the world?s most successful thriller writers.? ? The Strand Magazine The master of suspense returns, with a fierce cutting-edge tale of international terrorism and personal...  more

?With fresh plots, interesting characters, and vibrant settings, Jack Higgins has firmly cemented his reputation as one of the world?s most successful thriller writers.? ? The Strand Magazine The master of suspense returns, with a fierce cutting-edge tale of international terrorism and personal heroism. ?Jack Higgins has written some of the best suspense fiction of the past fifty years,? wrote The San Diego Union-Tribune. And in The Death Trade, he does it again. An eminent Iranian scientist has made a startling breakthrough in nuclear weapons research, but he can?t stand the thought of his country owning the bomb. He would run if he could, but if he does, his family dies. He is desperate, he doesn?t know what to do. It is up to Sean Dillon and the rest of the small band known as the ?Prime Minister?s private army? to come up with a plan. Most particularly, it is up to their newest member, an intelligence captain and Afghan war hero named Sara Gideon, who thinks there just might be a way to bring it off. But plans have a way of coming up against the unexpected. And as the operation spins out, from Paris and Syria to Iran and the Saudi Arabian desert, there is very much that is unexpected, indeed. And much blood that will be spilled. Filled with event, driven by characters of complexity and passion, The Death Trade is a remarkable novel by the ?dean of intrigue novelists? (St. Louis Post-Dispatch).

Pendergast-the world's most enigmatic FBI Special Agent-returns to New York City to investigate a murderous cult. William Smithback, a New York Times reporter, and his wife Nora Kelly, a Museum of Natural History archaeologist, are brutally attacked in their apartment on Manhattan's...  more

Pendergast-the world's most enigmatic FBI Special Agent-returns to New York City to investigate a murderous cult. William Smithback, a New York Times reporter, and his wife Nora Kelly, a Museum of Natural History archaeologist, are brutally attacked in their apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Eyewitnesses claim, and the security camera confirms, that the assailant was their strange, sinister neighbor-a man who, by all reports, was already dead and buried weeks earlier. While Captain Laura Hayward leads the official investigation, Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta undertake their own private -and decidedly unorthodox - quest for the truth. Their serpentine journey takes them to an enclave of Manhattan they never imagined could exist: a secretive, reclusive cult of Obeah and vodou which no outsiders have ever survived. Read by René Auberjonois.  12 sound discs (ca. 13.5 hr.)

It is 1830, and the Berrybender family -- rich, aristocratic, English, and fiercely out of place -- is on its way up the Missouri River to see the American West as it begins to open up. Lord and Lady Berrybender have abandoned their palatial home in England to explore the frontier and to...  more

It is 1830, and the Berrybender family -- rich, aristocratic, English, and fiercely out of place -- is on its way up the Missouri River to see the American West as it begins to open up. Lord and Lady Berrybender have abandoned their palatial home in England to explore the frontier and to broaden the horizons of their children, who include Tasmin, a budding young woman of grit, beauty, and determination, her vivacious and difficult sister, and her brother. As they journey by rough stages up the Missouri River, they meet with all the dangers, difficulties, temptations, and awesome natural scenery of the untamed West. At the very core of the story is Tasmin's fast-developing relationship with Jim Snow, frontiersman, ferocious Indian fighter, and part-time preacher. Known up and down the Missouri as "the Sin Killer," he's the handsome, silent Westerner who eventually captures her heart. Against the immense backdrop of the American West, Larry McMurtry tracks this engaging family as they make their way up the great river, surviving attacks, discomfort, savage weather, and natural disaster. Sin Killer is an adventure story full of incident, and suspense, as well as a charming love story between a headstrong and aristocratic young Englishwoman and the stubborn, shy, and very American Jim Snow. As big as the West itself, this is the kind of story that only Larry McMurtry can write.

At the old family mansion in Louisiana, Special Agent Pendergast is putting to rest long-ignored possessions reminiscent of his wife Helen's tragic death, only to make a stunning-and dreadful-discovery. Helen had been mauled by an unusually large and vicious lion while they were big game...  more

At the old family mansion in Louisiana, Special Agent Pendergast is putting to rest long-ignored possessions reminiscent of his wife Helen's tragic death, only to make a stunning-and dreadful-discovery. Helen had been mauled by an unusually large and vicious lion while they were big game hunting in Africa. But now, Pendergast learns that her rifle-her only protection from the beast-had been deliberately loaded with blanks. Who could have wanted Helen dead...and why? With Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta's assistance, Pendergast embarks on a quest to uncover the mystery of his wife's murder. It is a journey that sends him deep into her past where he learns much that Helen herself had wished to keep hidden. Helen Pendergast had nursed a secret obsession with the famed naturalist-painter John James Audubon, in particular a long-lost painting of his known as the Black Frame. As Pendergast probes more deeply into the riddle-the answer to which is revealed in a night of shocking violence, deep in the Louisiana bayou-he finds himself faced with an even greater question: who was the woman he married? Unabridged - 12 CDs - 14 hours - read by Rene Auberjonois

In an ancient tunnel underneath New York City a charnel house is discovered. Inside are thirty-six bodies--all murdered and mutilated more than a century ago. While FBI agent Pendergast investigates the old crimes, identical killings start to terrorize the city. The nightmare has...  more

In an ancient tunnel underneath New York City a charnel house is discovered. Inside are thirty-six bodies--all murdered and mutilated more than a century ago. While FBI agent Pendergast investigates the old crimes, identical killings start to terrorize the city. The nightmare has begun. Again. Read by Jonathan Marosz.  14 audio discs (17 hr.)

Hundreds of thousands were enthralled by the luminous voice of John Ames in Gilead, Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Home is an entirely independent, deeply affecting novel that takes place concurrently in the same locale, this time in the household of Reverend Robert...  more

Hundreds of thousands were enthralled by the luminous voice of John Ames in Gilead, Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Home is an entirely independent, deeply affecting novel that takes place concurrently in the same locale, this time in the household of Reverend Robert Boughton, Ames's closest friend. Glory Boughton, aged thirty-eight, has returned to Gilead to care for her dying father. Soon her brother, Jack--the prodigal son of the family, gone for twenty years--comes home too, looking for refuge and trying to make peace with a past littered with tormenting trouble and pain. Jack is one of the great characters in recent literature. A bad boy from childhood, an alcoholic who cannot hold a job, he is perpetually at odds with his surroundings and with his traditionalist father, though he remains Boughton's most beloved child. Brilliant, lovable, and wayward, Jack forges an intense bond with Glory and engages painfully with Ames, his godfather and namesake. Home is a moving and healing book about families, family secrets, and the passing of the generations, about love and death and faith. It is Robinson's greatest work, an unforgettable embodiment of the deepest and most universal emotions. Read by Maggi-Meg Reed Unabridged: 10 CDs, 12.5 hours

A Wickedly Observant Take on the Choices that Modern Mothers Face, by the Author of The Position. For a group of four New York friends, the past decade has been largely defined by marriage and motherhood. Educated and reared to believe that they would conquer the world, they then left...  more

A Wickedly Observant Take on the Choices that Modern Mothers Face, by the Author of The Position. For a group of four New York friends, the past decade has been largely defined by marriage and motherhood. Educated and reared to believe that they would conquer the world, they then left prestigious jobs to stay home with their babies. What was meant to be a temporary leave of absence has lasted a decade. Now, at age forty, with the halcyon days of young motherhood behind them and without professions to define them, Amy, Jill, Roberta, and Karen face a life that is not what they were brought up to expect but seems to be the one they have chosen. But when Amy meets someone who seems to have fulfilled the classic women's dream of having it all--work, love, family--without having to give anything up, a lifetime's worth of concerns, both practical and existential, opens up. As her obsession with this woman's bustling life grows, it forces the four friends to confront the choices they've made--until a series of startling events shatters the peace and, for some of them, changes the landscape entirely. Presented unabridged on 9 CDs.

Spenser has never had any difficulty handling women. But when four stunningly beautiful trophy wives hire him to protect them against a blackmailer threatening to expose their infidelities, even he must admit that they look like trouble. For a private eye of Spenser's abilities and contacts,...  more

Spenser has never had any difficulty handling women. But when four stunningly beautiful trophy wives hire him to protect them against a blackmailer threatening to expose their infidelities, even he must admit that they look like trouble. For a private eye of Spenser's abilities and contacts, tracking down Gary Eisenhower, the blackmailer and serial adulterer, isn't too difficult - but almost in spite of himself Spenser finds that he quite likes the guy. Certainly the women, with their loose purse-strings and looser morals, and their loveless marriages to rich, powerful, corrupt men, are hard to feel sorry for. But a killing soon changes the complexion of the case, and draws Spenser into the world of Boston's monied aristocracy: a world of corruption, vice and murder. As the bodies start to pile up, Spenser must decide which of his friends he can trust. Read by Joe Mantegna, unabridged.  5 CDs, 5 hrs., 30 mins.

It is 1913 and Leon Courtney, an ex-soldier turned professional hunter in British East Africa, guides the rich and powerful from America and Europe on big-game safaris. Leon had never sought fame, but an expedition alongside U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt has made him one of the most...  more

It is 1913 and Leon Courtney, an ex-soldier turned professional hunter in British East Africa, guides the rich and powerful from America and Europe on big-game safaris. Leon had never sought fame, but an expedition alongside U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt has made him one of the most sought-after hunters on the continent. Soon, he finds that with celebrity comes not just wealth but also danger. Leon is recruited by his uncle Penrod Ballantyne, commander of the British forces in East Africa, to gather information on one of his clients: Count Otto von Meerbach, a German industrialist whose company builds aircraft and vehicles for the Kaiser?s burgeoning army. While spying, Leon falls desperately in love with von Meerbach's beautiful and enigmatic mistress, Eva von Wellberg. On the eve of the World War, Leon stumbles on a plot by Count von Meerbach that could wipe out the British forces in Africa. He finds himself left alone to frustrate von Meerbach's plan, and in grave peril as he learns more about the enigmatic Eva. Unabridged: 14 Compact Discs, Running Time: 17 hours, Narrator: Simon Vance.

Eight years ago, in Sun Valley -- snowcapped playground for the wealthy and ambitious -- all that stood between New York State attorney general Elizabeth Shaler and a knife-wielding killer was local patrolman Walt Fleming. Now Liz Shaler returns to Sun Valley as the crown jewel and keynote...  more

Eight years ago, in Sun Valley -- snowcapped playground for the wealthy and ambitious -- all that stood between New York State attorney general Elizabeth Shaler and a knife-wielding killer was local patrolman Walt Fleming. Now Liz Shaler returns to Sun Valley as the crown jewel and keynote speaker for billionaire Patrick Cutter’s world-famous C3, a media and communications conference where the richest, most powerful business tycoons converge. The attorney general, a political lightning rod, is expected to announce her candidacy for president. It’s a media coup for Cutter -- but a security nightmare for Walt Fleming, now the county sheriff. As C3 gets under way, authorities learn of a confirmed threat on Shaler’s life, and various competing interests -- the Secret Service, the FBI, Cutter’s own security forces -- begin jockeying for jurisdiction. Beyond the logistical nightmare that the conference’s extravagances represent for Sheriff Fleming, he must also contend with a raft of other local concerns: his nephew’s arrest, his wife’s infidelity, the death of a socialite under suspicious circumstances, and a series of apparent maulings by a cougar. Each of these incidents comes to a head just as Shaler’s assassin puts his chillingly precise plan into action.  Performed by Christopher Lane.  6 CDs (approximately 7 hr.)

Patsy MacLemoore, a history professor in her late twenties, has a brand-new PhD from Berkeley and a wild streak. She wakes up in jail after an epic alcoholic blackout. Okay, what'd I do? she asks her lawyer and jailers. In fact, two Jehovah s Witnesses, a mother and daughter, are dead, run...  more

Patsy MacLemoore, a history professor in her late twenties, has a brand-new PhD from Berkeley and a wild streak. She wakes up in jail after an epic alcoholic blackout. Okay, what'd I do? she asks her lawyer and jailers. In fact, two Jehovah s Witnesses, a mother and daughter, are dead, run over in Patsy's driveway, and Patsy will spend the rest of her life trying to atone. She goes to prison, gets sober, and upon her release finds a new community (and a husband) in AA. She resists temptations, strives for goodness, and becomes a selfless teacher, friend, and wife. Then, decades later, another unimaginable piece of information turns up. For the reader, it is an electrifying moment; a joyous, fall-off-the-couch-with-surprise moment. For Patsy, it is more complicated. Blame must be reapportioned, her life reassessed. What does it mean that her life has been based on wrong assumptions? What can she cleave to? What must be relinquished? Unabridged: 9 Compact Discs, Running Time: 10.5 hours, Narrator: Hilary Huber

The New York Times-bestselling story of a puppy brought back from the brink of death, and the family he adopted. In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What...  more

The New York Times-bestselling story of a puppy brought back from the brink of death, and the family he adopted. In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen--one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue--ran up to them and captured their hearts. The dog had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been thrown in a cage and left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy's charms. Heartwarming and redemptive, OOGY is the story of the people who were determined to rescue this dog against all odds, and of the family who took him home, named him "Oogy" (an affectionate derivative of ugly), and made him one of their own.

The murder of a notorious public figure places Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone in the harsh glare of the media spotlight.  When the body of controversial talk-show host Walton Weeks is discovered hanging from a tree on the outskirts of Paradise, police chief Jesse Stone...  more

The murder of a notorious public figure places Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone in the harsh glare of the media spotlight.  When the body of controversial talk-show host Walton Weeks is discovered hanging from a tree on the outskirts of Paradise, police chief Jesse Stone finds himself at the center of a highly public case, forcing him to deal with small-minded local officials and national media scrutiny.  When another dead body, that of a young woman, is discovered just a few days later, the pressure becomes almost unbearable. Two victims in less than a week should provide a host of clues, but all Jesse runs into are dead ends.  But what may be the most disturbing aspect of these murders is the fact that no one seems to care, not a single one of Weeks's ex-wives, not the family of the girl.  And when the medical examiner reveals a heartbreaking link between the two departed souls, the mystery only deepens. Despite Weeks's reputation and the girl's tender age, Jesse is hard-pressed to find legitimate suspects.  Though the crimes are perhaps the most gruesome Jesse has ever witnessed, it is the malevolence behind them that makes them all the more frightening.  Forced to delve into a world of stormy relationships, Jesse soon comes to realize that knowing whom he can trust is indeed a matter of life and death. 5 Audio CDs, Run Time 6 hours, Unabridged.  Scott Sowers, narrator

Nearly a decade ago Frank McCourt became an unlikely star when, at the age of 66, he burst onto the literary scene with Angela's Ashes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir of his childhood in Limerick, Ireland. Then came 'Tis, his glorious account of his early years in New York.Now here at last,...  more

Nearly a decade ago Frank McCourt became an unlikely star when, at the age of 66, he burst onto the literary scene with Angela's Ashes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir of his childhood in Limerick, Ireland. Then came 'Tis, his glorious account of his early years in New York.Now here at last, is McCourt's long-awaited audiobook about how his thirty-year teaching career shaped his second act as a writer. Teacher Man is also an urgent tribute to teachers everywhere. In bold and spirited prose featuring his irreverent wit and heartbreaking honesty, McCourt records the trials, triumphs and surprises he faces in public high schools around New York City. Teacher Man shows McCourt developing his unparalleled ability to tell a great story as he works to gain the attention and respect of unruly, hormonally-charged or indifferent adolescents. McCourt's rocky marriage, his failed attempt to get a Ph.D. at Trinity College, Dublin, and his repeated firings due to his propensity to talk back to his superiors ironically lead him to New York's most prestigious school, Stuyvesant High School, where he finally finds a place and a voice. For McCourt, storytelling itself is the source of salvation and in Teacher Man the journey to redemption -- and literary fame -- is an exhilarating adventure.

When it comes to sex, Ash McIntyre has always explored his wilder side ? extreme and uncompromising. He demands control. And he prefers women who want it like that. Even the ones he?s shared with his best friend, Jace. But Jace is involved with a woman he has no intention of sharing. And now...  more

When it comes to sex, Ash McIntyre has always explored his wilder side ? extreme and uncompromising. He demands control. And he prefers women who want it like that. Even the ones he?s shared with his best friend, Jace. But Jace is involved with a woman he has no intention of sharing. And now even Gabe has settled into a relationship with someone who gives him everything he needs, leaving Ash feeling restless and unfulfilled. Then Ash meets Josie, who seems immune to his charms and his wealth. Intrigued, he begins a relentless pursuit, determined she won?t be the one who got away. He never imagined the one woman to tell him no would be the only woman who?d ever drive him to the edge of desire.

Irreverent and incredibly funny, Meredith Norton rails against self-pity and victimhood and rants about the innumerable copies of Lance Armstrongs cancer-survival book offered by well-meaning family and friends.

Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They?re powerful, they?re imposing, they?re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything ? including their women. When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he?s...  more

Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They?re powerful, they?re imposing, they?re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything ? including their women. When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he?s never experienced before: jealousy and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him ? and excites him beyond control. Jace isn?t sharing Bethany ? with anyone. He?s determined to be the only man in her life, and it?s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.

The Lightning Keeper is a sweeping, epic novel of ambition, love, and enterprise in America. It is the story of an unlikely Romeo and Juliet romance at the dawn of the electric age, with the nation balancing on the brink of world war and a scientific revolution. In 1914, Toma Pekocevic is a...  more

The Lightning Keeper is a sweeping, epic novel of ambition, love, and enterprise in America. It is the story of an unlikely Romeo and Juliet romance at the dawn of the electric age, with the nation balancing on the brink of world war and a scientific revolution. In 1914, Toma Pekocevic is a penniless immigrant in New York, recently escaped from the bloody politics of the Balkans that have claimed most of his family. He is also a gifted inventor who designs a revolutionary water turbine while working with Harriet Bigelow, scion of a proud Connecticut iron-making dynasty now fallen on hard times. Their attraction is immediate and overwhelming, but every circumstance is against them. Toma is eventually drawn inside the industrial empire of General Electric, his machine an essential cog in its grand scheme to provide electricity to the entire country. His invention is all he has after losing Harriet to a wealthy politician, but Toma is determined to win her back, setting the stage for a confrontation that could change not only his life but the course of scientific progress. Deeply evocative and utterly engrossing, The Lightning Keeper is a rich tapestry of technology, romance, and war -- an unforgettable and distinctly American saga that establishes Starling Lawrence as one of the most talented writers at work today. "This fascinating story of a long-term romance, interwoven with the story of the creation of the alternating current power grid, is performed with professionalism and verve by Terence Aselford. Exotic European accents evolve over the course of this tale of inventor Toma Pekocevic and the love of his life, Harriet. Toma's invention, a water-powered turbine, revolutionizes electric generation. Aselford is especially effective at portraying the anguish experienced by Toma as he loses Harriet to a wealthy politician who realizes the genius of Toma's invention and pulls strings to bring power to the people. For readers not interested in a behind-the-scenes peek at the science of power production, there are two juicy love triangles." -- AudioFile Abridged, 8 CDs, run time about 8 hrs, narrated by Terence Aselford

Meet Martin, JJ, Jess, and Maureen. Four people who come together on New Year's Eve: a former TV talk show host, a musician, a teenage girl, and a mother. Three are British, one is American. They encounter one another on the roof of Topper's House, a London destination famous as the last...  more

Meet Martin, JJ, Jess, and Maureen. Four people who come together on New Year's Eve: a former TV talk show host, a musician, a teenage girl, and a mother. Three are British, one is American. They encounter one another on the roof of Topper's House, a London destination famous as the last stop for those ready to end their lives. This is a tale of connections made and missed, punishing regrets, and the grace of second chances. Audio Review: Hornby's work showcases an unusual narrative hat trick. Told from four different perspectives -- that of four characters contemplating suicide -- the various narrators each provide a specific character voice and then, in the course of conversations, imitate the others. So, for example, Simon Vance must provide an upper-class British accent for his tarnished TV-host character but then must also mimic the regional accent used by Scott Brick's American musician. The narrators' dexterity is even more admirable in that Kate Reading portrays two of the British characters, a teenager and the mother of a disabled child. This dazzling narrative display enhances Hornby's emotional and often hilarious story about a group of misfits who learn to measure life in moments, not lifetimes. And for those keeping track, this is one of those rare audiobooks in which a character listens to an audiobook. -- AudioFile Unabridged: 8 CDs, 9 hours

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered -- fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find...  more

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered -- fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature -- and of herself -- while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. Read by Emma Galvin and Aaron Stanford; Unabridged: 11 CDs, 12.5 hrs.

This book picks up with Baxter Richardson's recovery from a near-fatal fall from a cliff. Married to Rena, a suspicious and highly unstable woman, Baxter is faced with a choice of staggering ramifications. While Rena Richardson is desperately trying to conceal her crime, her...  more

This book picks up with Baxter Richardson's recovery from a near-fatal fall from a cliff. Married to Rena, a suspicious and highly unstable woman, Baxter is faced with a choice of staggering ramifications. While Rena Richardson is desperately trying to conceal her crime, her attorney, Alexia Lindale, struggles to put the pieces of the case - as well as her own life - back together. As the mysterious circumstances surrounding Baxter's brush with death are revealed, the focus shifts from Life Support to the question of Life Everlasting.

THEY?RE BACK?! Sometimes, justice is a long time coming. That?s the case with Julie Wyatt, whose story strikes close to home for the original founder of the Sisterhood, Myra Rutledge, and her best friend ? and fellow Sister ? Annie. Julie is convinced her greedy daughter-in-law Darlene had...  more

THEY?RE BACK?! Sometimes, justice is a long time coming. That?s the case with Julie Wyatt, whose story strikes close to home for the original founder of the Sisterhood, Myra Rutledge, and her best friend ? and fellow Sister ? Annie. Julie is convinced her greedy daughter-in-law Darlene had something to do with the mysterious circumstances surrounding her son Larry?s death. She desperately wants to get a confession out of Darlene ? and to ensure the safety of Larry?s daughter, Olivia. As Myra, Annie, and their cohorts dig deeper into Darlene?s shady dealings, events unfurl in a way that no one could have predicted, bringing to light the true meaning of loyalty and courage ? and the kind of friendship that can create miracles?

"Laugh. Think. Repeat. Repeatedly. If someone told me this book was this good, I wouldn't have believed them."--Po Bronson, author of What Should I Do With My Life?"Think Don Quixote with a dark sense of humor and a taste for hashish and you begin to grasp Eric Weiner, the modern...  more

"Laugh. Think. Repeat. Repeatedly. If someone told me this book was this good, I wouldn't have believed them."--Po Bronson, author of What Should I Do With My Life?"Think Don Quixote with a dark sense of humor and a taste for hashish and you begin to grasp Eric Weiner, the modern knight-errant of this mad, sad, wise, and witty quest across four continents. I won't spoil the fun by telling if his mission succeeds, except to say that happiness is reading a book as entertaining as this."--Tony Horwitz, author of Confederates in the AtticPart foreign affairs discourse, part humor, and part twisted self-help guide, The Geography of Bliss takes the listener from America to Iceland to India in search of happiness, or, in the crabby author's case, moments of "un-unhappiness." The book uses a beguiling mixture of travel, psychology, science and humor to investigate not what happiness is, but where it is. Are people in Switzerland happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so damn happy? With engaging wit and surprising insights, Eric Weiner answers those questions and many others, offering travelers of all moods some interesting new ideas for sunnier destinations and dispositions.

Spero Lucas has a new line of work. Since he returned home after serving in Iraq, he has been doing special investigations for a defence attorney. He's good at it, and he has carved out a niche: recovering stolen property, no questions asked. His cut is forty percent. A high-profile crime...  more

Spero Lucas has a new line of work. Since he returned home after serving in Iraq, he has been doing special investigations for a defence attorney. He's good at it, and he has carved out a niche: recovering stolen property, no questions asked. His cut is forty percent. A high-profile crime boss who has heard of Lucas's speciality hires him to find out who has been stealing from his operation. It's the biggest job Lucas has ever been offered, and he quickly gets a sense of what's going on. But before he can close in on what's been taken, he tangles with a world of men whose amorality and violence leave him reeling. Is any cut worth your family, your lover, your life? Read by Dion Graham. 6 compact audio discs (approximately 7 hr., 30 min.)

In her powerful new novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels weaves a story of betrayal, courage, and starting over.? From her silver Mercedes to her designer kitchen, Molly?s life is gleaming and beautiful?at least on the surface. Married to Tanner, a top cosmetic dentist, she...  more

In her powerful new novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels weaves a story of betrayal, courage, and starting over.? From her silver Mercedes to her designer kitchen, Molly?s life is gleaming and beautiful?at least on the surface. Married to Tanner, a top cosmetic dentist, she has a wonderful daughter finishing high school and twin stepsons from Tanner?s first marriage. No one in her exclusive neighborhood in Goldenhills, Massachusetts, knows what living with the demanding Tanner is really like. They know even less about the life she left behind in Florida almost two decades ago. Back then, Molly was Maddy Carmichael, living with her twin brother and neglectful mother in a run-down trailer park amid the orange groves of Florida. After the terrible events of her high school prom night?and the act of vengeance that followed?she fled north and reinvented herself. But the veneer of Molly?s polished existence is finally cracking. As secrets old and new are revealed, Molly must face painful truths and the choices she made in their wake?and find the strength to become the woman she once hoped to be.

At 2 am on the morning of her fortieth birthday, Sophie wakes in the darkness of her bedroom and finds a stranger watching her from the foot of the bed. The intruder hands Sophie a letter and issues an ultimatum: the message is to be opened at her forthcoming party, in front of family and...  more

At 2 am on the morning of her fortieth birthday, Sophie wakes in the darkness of her bedroom and finds a stranger watching her from the foot of the bed. The intruder hands Sophie a letter and issues an ultimatum: the message is to be opened at her forthcoming party, in front of family and friends, at exactly 8 pm. Any failure to comply will not end well. Sophie can only think of one person who hates her enough to have hired a professional to menace her like this: her fiancé's ex-wife. What can the letter possibly contain? And why must it be read in front of everyone she loves? This will be no ordinary fortieth party. Sophie is not the only person holding a secret about the evening ahead. When the clock strikes eight, the course of several people's lives will be altered forever. Read by Julie Maisey. Audio MP3 (7 hours and 30 minutes)

Griffin has been tooling around for nearly a year with his father's ashes in the trunk, but his mother is very much alive and not shy about calling on his cell phone. She does so as he drives down to Cape Cod, where he and his wife, Joy, will celebrate the marriage of their daughter...  more

Griffin has been tooling around for nearly a year with his father's ashes in the trunk, but his mother is very much alive and not shy about calling on his cell phone. She does so as he drives down to Cape Cod, where he and his wife, Joy, will celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura's best friend. For Griffin this is akin to driving into the past, since he took his childhood summer vacations here, his parents' respite from the hated Midwest. And the Cape is where he and Joy honeymooned, in the course of which they drafted the Great Truro Accord, a plan for their lives together that's now thirty years old and has largely come true. He'd left screenwriting and Los Angeles behind for the sort of New England college his snobby academic parents had always aspired to in vain; they'd moved into an old house full of character; and they'd started a family. Check, check and check. But be careful what you pray for, especially if you manage to achieve it. By the end of this perfectly lovely weekend, the past has so thoroughly swamped the present that the future suddenly hangs in the balance. And when, a year later, a far more important wedding takes place, their beloved Laura's, on the coast of Maine, Griffin's chauffeuring two urns of ashes as he contends once more with Joy and her large, unruly family, and both he and she have brought dates along. How in the world could this have happened? Read by Arthur Morey Unabridged CD - 8 CD's; 9 hours

Debbie Macomber returns with a powerful and uplifting novel set in the same world as her New York Times bestseller A Girl?s Guide to Moving On.   After living in the shadow of her overbearing parents for twenty-five years, Beth Prudhomme is finally taking charge of her life. She moves from...  more

Debbie Macomber returns with a powerful and uplifting novel set in the same world as her New York Times bestseller A Girl?s Guide to Moving On.   After living in the shadow of her overbearing parents for twenty-five years, Beth Prudhomme is finally taking charge of her life. She moves from Chicago to Portland, reconnects with her favorite aunt, and finds a job as a high-school music teacher. Everything seems to be coming together?except for her love life, which is going nowhere. Her friend Nichole introduces her to Sam, but the tattooed mechanic is her parents? worst nightmare. Then tragedy strikes, forcing Beth to reevaluate everything?because sometimes life can be so wrong it?s right.

Riley Crane woke up fully dressed, a gun under her pillow, and covered in blood. Even more frightening, she didn't remember what happened the night before. In fact, she barely remembered the previous three weeks.An ex-army officer, now a federal agent assigned to the Special Crimes Unit, Riley...  more

Riley Crane woke up fully dressed, a gun under her pillow, and covered in blood. Even more frightening, she didn't remember what happened the night before. In fact, she barely remembered the previous three weeks.An ex-army officer, now a federal agent assigned to the Special Crimes Unit, Riley was a chameleon - a clairvoyant who could blend in with her surroundings, be anyone or anything she chose to be. The SCU's expert on the occult, she'd been sent to the beachfront cottage on Opal Island by her enigmatic chief, Noah Bishop, to investigate reports of dangerous occult activity. But that was three weeks ago. Now she's awoken to discover that she's got a sexy new man in her life and an unreliable memory, and that the clairvoyant abilities she's always depended on to protect her are MIA. Worse yet, with SCU resources stretched thinner than ever before, Riley is alone and without backup, feeling her way through a deadly game of blindman's buff, where no one around her is quite who or what they seem. And a bizarre murder is only the first jarring reminder of how high the stakes really are.Bishop wants Riley off the case. So does powerful local D.A. Ash Prescott. Both her old retired army buddy Gordon Skinner and Sheriff Jake Ballard believe she can catch a vicious killer. But one of these four men knows exactly what's going on in this coastal community, and that's knowledge Riley desperately needs. For what Riley can't remember is more than enough to cost her her life. This time evil isn't just closer than she thinks ? it's already there.

Anne Silver's brother had been working to expose a clever ring of swindlers when he was struck down by a car -- a clear case of attempted murder. Now Anne's determined to finish what her brother started. But she can't do it without the help of ex-CIA agent Julian Aries, a man who...  more

Anne Silver's brother had been working to expose a clever ring of swindlers when he was struck down by a car -- a clear case of attempted murder. Now Anne's determined to finish what her brother started. But she can't do it without the help of ex-CIA agent Julian Aries, a man who once betrayed her. With Julian as an unwilling conspirator, the couple goes undercover to face ghosts old and new -- an unsolved murder and a clever gang of fake psychics. But as Anne and Julian put their lives on the line, the icy chill of danger and a powerful desire they can no longer deny force them to confront the greatest unsolved mystery of all...their unlikely love.

What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think about health: a manifesto for our times. Read by Scott Brick.  5 audio discs (6 hr., 30 min.)

Dr. Julie Devereux is an outspoken advocate for the right to die ?until a motorcycle accident leaves her fiancé, Sam Talbot, a quadriplegic. Sam begs to end his life, but Julie sees hope in a life together. With the help of an organization that opposes physician-assisted suicide, Julie has Sam...  more

Dr. Julie Devereux is an outspoken advocate for the right to die ?until a motorcycle accident leaves her fiancé, Sam Talbot, a quadriplegic. Sam begs to end his life, but Julie sees hope in a life together. With the help of an organization that opposes physician-assisted suicide, Julie has Sam coming around to her point of view when he suddenly dies from an unexpected heart attack. An autopsy reveals that Sam died of an unusual heart defect, one seen only in those under extreme stress ?in fact, it appears that Sam had been literally scared to death. As Julie investigates similar cases, she finds a frightening pattern?and finds herself the target of disturbing threats. The more cases Julie discovers, the more the threats escalate, until she is accused of a mercy killing of her own. To clear her name and save her career, she must track down whoever is behind these mysterious deaths...but time is running out as someone has decided that killing Julie is the only way to stop her.A riveting medical thriller, Mercy will leave readers breathless with twists and turns leading up to its explosive conclusion, from New York Times bestselling author Michael Palmer and his son, acclaimed suspense novelist Daniel Palmer."Ample, plausible twists combined with well-developed characters add up to a superior thriller." -Publishers Weekly starred review

Now on value-priced Encore CD! The ?astonishing? (The New York Times Book Review) and ?inspirational? (Shelf Awareness) true story of Phiona Mutesi?a teenage chess prodigy from the slums of Uganda?soon to be a major motion picture starring David Oyelowo and Academy Award?winner Lupita...  more

Now on value-priced Encore CD! The ?astonishing? (The New York Times Book Review) and ?inspirational? (Shelf Awareness) true story of Phiona Mutesi?a teenage chess prodigy from the slums of Uganda?soon to be a major motion picture starring David Oyelowo and Academy Award?winner Lupita Nyong?o. One day in 2005 while searching for food, nine-year-old Ugandan Phiona Mutesi followed her brother to a dusty veranda where she met Robert Katende. Katende, a war refugee turned missionary, had an improbable dream: to empower kids in the Katwe slum through chess?a game so foreign there is no word for it in their native language. Laying a chess­board in the dirt, Robert began to teach. At first children came for a free bowl of porridge, but many grew to love the game that?like their daily lives?requires persevering against great obstacles. Of these kids, one girl stood out as an immense talent: Phiona. By the age of eleven Phiona was her country?s junior champion, and at fifteen, the national champion. Now a Woman Candidate Master?the first female titled player in her country?s history?Phiona dreams of becoming a Grandmaster, the most elite level in chess. But to reach that goal, she must grapple with everyday life in one of the world?s most unstable coun­tries. Filled with aspiration, determination, and belief, The Queen of Katwe is a ?remarkable? (NPR) and ?riveting? (New York Post) book that shows how ?Phiona?s story transcends the limitations of the chessboard? (Robert Hess, US Grandmaster). This is ?a must-read for all who dare to dream? (Library Journal, starred review).

A DEADLY AUDIO COLLECTION From The New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs comes three thrilling audiobooks in one unique package. D?J? DEAD Read by Amy Irving Dr. Temperance Brennan fights one-woman battle to expose a link between similar brutal rapes and murders that have...  more

A DEADLY AUDIO COLLECTION From The New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs comes three thrilling audiobooks in one unique package. D?J? DEAD Read by Amy Irving Dr. Temperance Brennan fights one-woman battle to expose a link between similar brutal rapes and murders that have occured in the city of Montreal. As she herself becomes the target, Tempe must rely on her wits to save her life. DEATH DU JOUR Read by Katherine Borowitz In the bitter cold of Montreal winter, Dr. Temperance Brennan digs for a corpse buried more than a century ago. Though she thrives on enigmas from the past, a chain of contemporary deaths and disappearances in South Carolina seizes her attention. Tempe is ideally placed to make a chilling connection between seemingly unrelated events. But time is running out and a nerve-shattering test of her forensic expertise is the key to her survival. DEADLY DECISIONS Read by Katherine Borowitz Nine-year-old Emily Anne Toussaint is shot dead on a Montreal street. A North Carolina teenager disappears from her home. Parts of what may be her skeleton are found hundreds of miles away. For. Dr. Temperance Brennan the deaths kindle deep emotions that propel her on harrowing journey through the world of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

NO MORE THAN A DARK PENCIL LINE ON A BLANK PAGE. A HORIZON LINE, MAYBE. BUT ALSO A SLOT FOR BLACKNESS TO POUR THROUGH... A terrible accident takes Edgar Freemantle's right arm and scrambles his memory and his mind, leaving him with little but rage as he begins the ordeal of...  more

NO MORE THAN A DARK PENCIL LINE ON A BLANK PAGE. A HORIZON LINE, MAYBE. BUT ALSO A SLOT FOR BLACKNESS TO POUR THROUGH... A terrible accident takes Edgar Freemantle's right arm and scrambles his memory and his mind, leaving him with little but rage as he begins the ordeal of rehabilitation. When his marriage suddenly ends, Edgar begins to wish he hadn't survived his injuries. He wants out. His psychologist suggests a new life distant from the Twin Cities, along with something else: "Edgar, does anything make you happy?" "I used to sketch." "Take it up again. You need hedges...hedges against the night." Edgar leaves for Duma Key, an eerily undeveloped splinter of the Florida coast. The sun setting into the Gulf of Mexico calls out to him, and Edgar draws. Once he meets Elizabeth Eastlake, a sick old woman with roots tangled deep in Duma Key, Edgar begins to paint, sometimes feverishly; many of his paintings have a power that cannot be controlled. When Elizabeth's past unfolds and the ghosts of her childhood begin to appear, the damage of which they are capable is truly devastating. The tenacity of love, the perils of creativity, the mysteries of memory and the nature of the supernatural -- Stephen King gives us a novel as fascinating as it is gripping and terrifying. Narrated by John Slattery.  18 sound discs (ca. 21 hr.)

Beautiful inside and out, New York socialite Judy Lovin values family over fortune and fame. So when her father’s business collapses and his most powerful enemy offers to help — in exchange for Judy’s company — she agrees to join John McFarland on his remote Caribbean...  more

Beautiful inside and out, New York socialite Judy Lovin values family over fortune and fame. So when her father’s business collapses and his most powerful enemy offers to help — in exchange for Judy’s company — she agrees to join John McFarland on his remote Caribbean island. It isn’t long before she discovers that John’s far from the beast he seems to be! Unabridged on 4 sound discs (4 hr., 56 min.) Read by Teri Clark Linden.

What happens when the very gods depend on mortals for help? That's what three very different young women find out when they are invited to Warrior's Peak. To Dana Steele books and the knowledge they hold are the key to contentment. But now that search for knowledge must include the second key...  more

What happens when the very gods depend on mortals for help? That's what three very different young women find out when they are invited to Warrior's Peak. To Dana Steele books and the knowledge they hold are the key to contentment. But now that search for knowledge must include the second key needed to release three souls held captive by an evil god. She won't be alone, for she's formed fast friendships with two very different women. She can't allow herself to be distracted by the return of the man who broke her heart so long ago, for a danger beyond anyone's imagination is determined to keep her from completing her quest.

Deep below the deceptively beautiful waters of the Atlantic Ocean, guarded by hundreds of dolphins, lie the astonishing remains of a mysterious lost city much like the legendary Atlantis. While mapping the ancient underwater metropolis of Marinth, marine architect Hannah Bryson makes a...  more

Deep below the deceptively beautiful waters of the Atlantic Ocean, guarded by hundreds of dolphins, lie the astonishing remains of a mysterious lost city much like the legendary Atlantis. While mapping the ancient underwater metropolis of Marinth, marine architect Hannah Bryson makes a shocking discovery: She may have finally uncovered the truth about the once-glorious city's mysterious demise. Marinth's sudden disappearance has confounded scientists for years, but now, with the revelation of a key artifact, Hannah realizes that the long-buried city's explosive secret could have dire consequences for the modern-day world. But she isn't the only one who realizes it. The artifact is hijacked, and Hannah stands alone between a power-hungry enemy and widespread destruction. Willing to form whatever alliance is necessary to regain control of this potentially world-changing weapon, Hannah joins forces with Nicholas Kirov, a loose cannon from her past who is now her best hope for survival. Together they will race to unravel Marinth's last great secret in order to prevent a catastrophe of global proportions. And before the lethal game is over, Hannah will realize that nothing and no one is what she expected, not even the dolphins, who know so much more than anyone could imagine. Shadow Zone is fast-paced and cutting edge. Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen have raised the bar again in this blood-pumping thrill ride.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods brings listeners two classic tales of the Devaneys?brothers torn apart in childhood, reunited by love.Michael's Discovery For years, Kelly Andrews has waited for her big brother's best friend to notice her. As the physical therapist assigned to...  more

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods brings listeners two classic tales of the Devaneys?brothers torn apart in childhood, reunited by love.Michael's Discovery For years, Kelly Andrews has waited for her big brother's best friend to notice her. As the physical therapist assigned to his recovery, she's finally getting the chance. But navy SEAL Michael Devaney is broken in body and spirit, and all he sees is himself-as half a man. He's sure he'll never be enough for the beautiful and vibrant Kelly. Can Kelly convince him that he's all the man she would ever need?Patrick's DestinyDevastated by the discovery of a terrible family secret, Patrick Devaney has shut out the world. But enchanting kindergarten teacher Alice Newberry sees the hurt in his eyes and is determined to help Patrick find peace. She knows it will take a lesson in love and forgiveness to coax the brooding fisherman out of hiding. Soon, Patrick begins to hope, but before he can truly claim Alice as his own, he has to face the greatest challenge of his life-his past.

Michael Tolliver, the sweet-spirited Southerner in Armistead Maupin's classic Tales of the City series, is arguably one of the most widely loved characters in contemporary fiction. Now, almost twenty years after ending his groundbreaking saga of San Francisco life, Maupin revisits his...  more

Michael Tolliver, the sweet-spirited Southerner in Armistead Maupin's classic Tales of the City series, is arguably one of the most widely loved characters in contemporary fiction. Now, almost twenty years after ending his groundbreaking saga of San Francisco life, Maupin revisits his all-too-human hero, letting the 55-year-old gardener tell his story in his own voice. Having survived the plague that took so many of his friends and lovers, Michael has learned to embrace the random pleasures of life, the tender alliances that sustain him in the hardest of times. Michael Tolliver Lives follows its protagonist as he finds love with a younger man, attends to his dying fundamentalist mother in Florida, and finally reaffirms his allegiance to a wise octogenarian who was once his landlady. While Michael Tolliver Lives is a stand alone novel, accessible to old and new readers alike, a reassuring number of familiar faces appear along the way. As usual, the author's mordant wit and ear for pitch-perfect dialogue serve every aspect of the story—from the bawdy to the bittersweet. Michael Tolliver Lives is a novel about the act of growing older joyfully and the everyday miracles that somehow make that possible. Narrated by: Armistead Maupin Unabridged: 6 CDs, 7 hr.

Sharp as a tack and proper as afternoon tea, Miss Julia has won a devoted and ever-growing legion of fans. But are Miss Julia’s single days numbered? In Miss Julia Meets Her Match, her longtime beau, Sam Murdoch, wants to tie the knot. But Miss Julia isn’t about to give up her...  more

Sharp as a tack and proper as afternoon tea, Miss Julia has won a devoted and ever-growing legion of fans. But are Miss Julia’s single days numbered? In Miss Julia Meets Her Match, her longtime beau, Sam Murdoch, wants to tie the knot. But Miss Julia isn’t about to give up her independence so easily. At the moment there are many other matters that require her attention, such as Dwayne Dooley’s plans to build the Walk Where Jesus Walked Christian theme park—a re-creation of the Holy Land complete with actors, sound effects, and trailer hookups. Meanwhile, the whole town is buzzing with rumors. The preacher’s secretary was spotted leaving a sleazy motel with the mayor’s car parked nearby. The preacher’s wife, always sternly opposed to any "artificial adornment," is suddenly sporting a complete cosmetic and fashion makeover. Even Miss Julia’s own home is not immune to shock waves—the arrival of Latisha, housekeeper Lillian’s five-year-old pistol of a great-granddaughter, shakes up Miss Julia’s household like a bunch of Fourth of July firecrackers. But can Miss Julia’s cool-as-a-cucumber head help her heart make the decision of a lifetime?

An actress's deeply moving account of the price and rewards of a passionate life. At 22, Kate Mulgrew gave birth to a daughter. Having already signed the adoption papers, she was allowed only a fleeting glimpse of her child. Three days later, she returned to work as the star of a popular soap...  more

An actress's deeply moving account of the price and rewards of a passionate life. At 22, Kate Mulgrew gave birth to a daughter. Having already signed the adoption papers, she was allowed only a fleeting glimpse of her child. Three days later, she returned to work as the star of a popular soap opera. Twenty years later, still haunted by the choice she had made, Kate went in search of the daughter she had given away. We know Mulgrew for the strong women she's played--Captain Janeway on Star Trek; "Red" on Orange Is the New Black. Now, in her memoir, we meet the most inspiring and memorable character of all: herself. Raised in a large, eccentric Irish family, Mulgrew is mischievous, brave, wise, and a born storyteller. Weaving together the details of her upbringing and career with the romance, adventure, and heartbreak behind the scenes, BORN WITH TEETH is a breathtaking memoir of a life lived to the fullest.

[Read by Ray Porter] A heartwarming debut novel by Matthew Quick, soon to be a major movie by David O. Russell (the Oscar-nominated director of The Fighter) due in theatres Thanksgiving 2012 Why did NPR's popular librarian Nancy Pearl pick The Silver Linings Playbook as one of summer's best...  more

[Read by Ray Porter] A heartwarming debut novel by Matthew Quick, soon to be a major movie by David O. Russell (the Oscar-nominated director of The Fighter) due in theatres Thanksgiving 2012 Why did NPR's popular librarian Nancy Pearl pick The Silver Linings Playbook as one of summer's best reads for 2009? ''Aawww shucks!'' Pearl said. ''I know that's hardly a usual way to begin a book review, but it was my immediate response to finishing Matthew Quick's heartwarming, humorous and soul-satisfying first novel . . . This book makes me smile.'' The Silver Linings Playbook is the riotous and poignant story of how one man regains his memory and comes to terms with the magnitude of his wife's betrayal, an enchanting first novel about love, madness, and Kenny G. During the years he spends in a neural health facility, Pat Peoples formulates a theory about silver linings: he believes his life is a movie produced by God, his mission is to become physically fit and emotionally supportive, and his happy ending will be the return of his estranged wife, Nikki. The problem is that Pat is now home, living with his parents, and everything seems off; no one will talk to him about Nikki; his old friends are saddled with families; the Philadelphia Eagles keep losing, making his father moody; and his new therapist seems to be recommending adultery as a form of therapy. When Pat meets the tragically widowed, physically fit, and clinically depressed Tiffany, she offers to act as a liaison between him and his wife, but only if he will give up watching football, agree to perform in this year's Dance Away Depression competition, and promise not to tell anyone about their ''contract.'' All the while, Pat keeps searching for his silver lining. In this brilliantly written debut novel, Matthew Quick takes us inside Pat's mind, deftly showing us the world from his distorted yet endearing perspective. The result is a touching and funny story that helps us look at both depression and love in a wonderfully refreshing way.

The most popular of Woolf's novels during her lifetime, "The Years" is at once the story of three generations of a family, the pargiters, and a savage indictment of British society at the turn of the century. A work of fluid and dazzling lucidity, the novel does not follow a simple line of...  more

The most popular of Woolf's novels during her lifetime, "The Years" is at once the story of three generations of a family, the pargiters, and a savage indictment of British society at the turn of the century. A work of fluid and dazzling lucidity, the novel does not follow a simple line of development but is varied and constantly changing, emphasizing its narrative discontinuity. As the characters follow their daily rituals they struggle to understand the significance of their own lives and experiences in relation to each other and to the historical events going on around them. There is often failure yet there is also hope in the recognition that the future can be different from the past.