The Ties That Bind Us tells the story of four generations of women from the same family over the span of 80 years. Margaret is a widowed single mother, raising her daughter in the aftermath of immeasurable loss. Bridget is dealing with the struggles of her childhood by creating her idea of a perfect family. Elizabeth has spent her adolescence rebelling against all her family stood for, promising to do it all differently with her own children. Alice is doing her best trying to find her place in the world while she battles her greatest enemy: her own mind. Follow the thread as it weaves through the years, binding these four women together.
Beneath the ancient olive trees, Fadwa finds herself drawn back to a land steeped in memory and history. As she reconnects with the rhythms of gazan life, she is reminded of the simple joys and deep sorrows that shaped her childhood. Amidst the familiar scents and sounds of her homeland, Fadwa must come to terms with the passage of time, the changes it brings, and the enduring bond between people and place. "In the Shadows of the Olive Trees" is a lyrical exploration of identity, belonging, and the ties that bind us to our roots. As Fadwa navigates her return to a world she once knew, she discovers that some connections, like the ancient trees themselves, are unbreakable. This novel is a reflection on the journey home and the memories that shape us.
A draft from adrift is a collection of poems floating around, like thoughts, memos, memories saved in the notes app. Poems about grief, longing, madness, loneliness, and love. A landscape exploring the depths of what it means to be a human being.
Third Sister in the Tao family, Ailin has watched her two older sisters go through the painful process of having their feet bound. In China in 1911, all the women of good families follow this ancient tradition. But Ailin loves to run away from her governess and play games with her male cousins. Knowing she will never run again once her feet are bound, Ailin rebels and refuses to follow this torturous tradition. As a result, however, the family of her intended husband breaks their marriage agreement. And as she enters adolescence, Ailin finds that her family is no longer willing to support her. Chinese society leaves few options for a single woman of good family, but with a bold conviction and an indomitable spirit, Ailin is determined to forge her own destiny. Her story is a tribute to all those women whose courage created new options for the generations who came after them.
Delve into the world of "Beneath The Banyan's Branches," where family fractures are bared and wounds are laid bare. Follow Gia, Pia, and So as they confront the legacy of their father's absence, navigating a journey through grief, guilt, and the yearning for reconciliation. This is a story of heartache, the power of shared memories, and the resilience of love.
Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart? Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach. Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish. * Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever. Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series.
Black as Midnight is the next full-length novel in the Ariel Kimber series.Ariel Kimber has finally settled into her life. Not only does she have a safe place to call home, one she actually loves living at, but she's got the best roommate a girl could ask for. Oh, and he comes with an adorable little black cat as well.And that's not all that's looking bright and shiny in Ariel's life. She's got a job now, working at Tyson's shop - Fortune's for the Unfortunate. Her job is awesome and it's made even better by the fact she gets to work where her father, Rain Kimber, lives, who is also another bright spot in her life.Life is golden, shiny, and the potential for happy days - endless.Until it's not.When the Council comes to call, you pick up the phone and answer... Or you suffer the consequences.Only a fool wouldn't answer, and Ariel Kimber is no fool.With her coven of guys, her psychotic father and the honorable Marcus Cole by her side, she can make it through anything... Even the Council.Ariel Kimber reading order: Brothers of the FlameLove PotionBlood MagicThe Ties That BindTyson (Novella)Good Witch, Bad Witch (Short Story)Black as Midnigh
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this irresistible novel from the author of All We Ever Wanted and Something Borrowed, a young woman falls hard for an impossibly perfect man before he disappears without a trace. . . . It’s 2 A.M. on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and twenty-eight-year-old Cecily Gardner sits alone in a dive bar in New York’s East Village, questioning her life. Feeling lonesome and homesick for the Midwest, she wonders if she’ll ever make it as a reporter in the big city—and whether she made a terrible mistake in breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew. As Cecily reaches for the phone to call him, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, “Don’t do it—you’ll regret it.” Something tells her to listen, and over the next several hours—and shots of tequila—the two forge an unlikely connection. That should be it, they both decide the next morning, as Cecily reminds herself of the perils of a rebound relationship. Moreover, their timing couldn’t be worse—Grant is preparing to quit his job and move overseas. Yet despite all their obstacles, they can’t seem to say goodbye, and for the first time in her carefully constructed life, Cecily follows her heart instead of her head. Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing-person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him. Her investigative reporting instincts kick into action as she vows to discover the truth. But the questions pile up fast: How well did she really know Grant? Did he ever really love her? And is it possible to love a man who wasn’t who he seemed to be? The Lies That Bind is a mesmerizing and emotionally resonant exploration of the never-ending search for love and truth—in our relationships, our careers, and deep within our own hearts.
Learn how to increase students' skills as writers and storytellers with an innovative, inclusive, and empowering framework for teaching writing that centers student voice. Tell Your Story: Teaching Students to Become World-Changing Thinkers and Writers explores how to help students see themselves as writers and storytellers who are developing the skills and techniques to communicate in ways that resonate with various audiences. When students make that shift and see themselves as active and valued participants in their own communities, cultures, and literary journeys, they become powerful writers eager to explore and share ideas. With the strategies in this book, you can * Create an environment of belonging that fosters creativity and confidence. * Demonstrate the value of oral and visual storytelling. * Teach story structure, both old and new and in a variety of genres. * Offer a variety of role models and exemplars through mentor texts. * Assess and confer with student writers to help them improve their skills. * Value students' voices as future agents of change. When you help students unlock the stories they want to tell, you'll see writing anxieties and resistance fade as students come alive to the multitude of ways in which they can make their voices heard. Storytelling can be a wellness practice, a tool for empowerment, and a method for self-understanding and self-expression. For all students, storytelling is a path to lifelong learning and to realizing the full power of their voice and their potential to change the world.
