A disillusioned Parisian writer finds inspiration in the ordinary lives of his neighbours, the Martins. ‘A wonderful surprise' L'Express Is it true that every life is the stuff of novels? Or are some people just too ordinary? This is the question a struggling Parisian writer asks when he challenges himself to write about the first person he sees when he steps outside his apartment. Secretly hoping to meet the beautiful woman who occasionally smokes on his street, he instead sets eyes on octogenarian Madeleine. She’s happy to become the subject of his project, but first she needs to put her shopping away… Wondering if his project is doomed to be hopelessly banal, he soon finds himself tangled in the lives of Madeleine’s family. Though calm on the surface, the Martins have secrets, troubles and woes, and the writer discovers that the most compelling story is that of an ordinary life.
Hajara, not yet 10, was a house girl, working dawn to dusk in a world of drudgery and abuse when Tom and Cheryl Martin rescued her. They found Kenny in the streets, an orphan with twisted limbs who desperately needed a wheelchair — and school fees. In Following the Martins, you meet them and many more, experiencing the changes that hope can bring. It takes many forms: school fees for children, training and tools for adults, medication for the sick, university tuition for promising students. Suddenly, impossible dreams become possibilities. Children are their primary focus but, unencumbered by organizational straitjackets, they embrace anyone in need, working in hectic bursts for six weeks a year in each of three countries. In the eleven years since the Martins launched their organization, more than eighty North American supporters have travelled to meet the kids and families they sponsor, to share meals, tears and laughter, successes and failures. For many, the visits have been life-changing.
"Nearly every page has some crack piece of travel wisdom ... an accessible, inspiring journey." —Kirkus The Sell-Your-House, See-the-World Life! Reunited after thirty-five years and wrestling a serious case of wanderlust, Lynne and Tim Martin decided to sell their house and possessions and live abroad full-time. They've never looked back. With just two suitcases, two computers, and each other, the Martins embark on a global adventure, taking readers from sky-high pyramids in Mexico to Turkish bazaars to learning the contact sport of Italian grocery shopping. But even as they embrace their new home-free lifestyle, the Martins grapple with its challenges, including hilarious language barriers, finding financial stability, and missing the family they left behind. Together, they learn how to live a life—and love—without borders. Recently featured on NPR's Here and Now and in the New York Times, Home Sweet Anywhere is a road map for anyone who dreams of turning the idea of life abroad into a reality.
Witty, warm, and poignant, food blogger Sasha Martin's memoir about cooking her way to happiness and self-acceptance is a culinary journey like no other. Over the course of 195 weeks, food writer and blogger Sasha Martin set out to cook—and eat—a meal from every country in the world. As cooking unlocked the memories of her rough-and-tumble childhood and the loss and heartbreak that came with it, Martin became more determined than ever to find peace and elevate her life through the prism of food and world cultures. From the tiny, makeshift kitchen of her eccentric, creative mother, to a string of foster homes, to the house from which she launched her own cooking adventure, Martin's heartfelt, brutally honest memoir reveals the power of cooking to bond, to empower, and to heal—and celebrates the simple truth that happiness is created from within. "This beautifully written book is both poignant and uplifting. Not to mention delicious. It's an amazing family tale that reminds me of The Glass Castle, but with more food. And not just any food: We're talking cinnamon raisin pizza." —A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically "Life From Scratch is an unconventional love story. This beautiful book begins with the quest of cooking a meal from every country—a noble feat of it's own!—but then turns it into something far beyond a kitchen adventure. Be prepared to be changed as you experience Sasha's journey for yourself." —Chris Guillebeau, author of The Happiness Pursuit
Immerse yourself in this utterly addictive forbidden love story that has captivated thousands of readers around the world. “We are not meant to be together. I should’ve known better. And yet…” Petra, a seventeen-year-old Dutch-American and the only heir of finance tycoon Roy Van Gatt, has always had her life rigorously planned and supervised by her strict father. From her internship at his hedge fund firm on Wall Street to her degree in Economics at Columbia University, Petra is all set for a bright future in finance. But everything falls apart when she develops a dangerous relationship with her father’s business partner and utmost confidant, Alexander Van Dieren. A Dutch nobleman, known as an unrepentant heartbreaker, twenty-three years her senior, and who is, above all else, her beloved godfather. A twisted obsession for some, unconditional love for others, but one thing is sure: it’s a relationship that might cost them everything... This book is for mature audiences. ★★★★★ "A Must Read for Romantic Thriller Enthusiasts. Blossom in Winter is a beautifully wrought and expertly woven story of forbidden love, desire, dark pasts, and the lengths one will go to protect everything that matters most to them." -- Payton H, Amazon ★★★★★ "This dark romance is just what you need to keep you warm on the cold winter nights that are coming our way, it even has a simmering slow burn going on." -- Cassandra W., Amazon UK ★★★★★ "This book has been an absolute pleasure to read. There's puppy love, genuine romance, dark and twisted erotica and moments that will leave you shocked." -- Victoria Spaulding, Goodreads ★★★★★ "I don't even have words, got to be one of the most intense books I've read in a while." -- Obsidian, Goodreads ★★★★★ "This was the most amazing book I've read in a while, it was so gripping, I really couldn't stop reading it even at 2 am when I had a Uni class the next day!" -- Sabrina, Goodreads ★★★★★ "No lies, this is the best book I've ever read! I've felt so many emotions while reading it! Can't wait for the second book!!!" -- Mariska, Goodreads ★★★★★ "This book was exceptional, it captivated me instantly." -- Christina, Goodreads ★★★★★ "A captivating page-turner of a book that you literally will not put down." - Jojo, Goodreads ★★★★★ "This was by far the most refreshing, exciting, thrilling, adventurous, and sexy book I've read." -- Amy Shaw, Goodreads ★★★★★ "Pure intensity from the very first word to the very last!" -- Dionne McCarten, Goodreads ★★★★★ "This is by far one of the best books I've read in a long time!" -- Jade, Goodreads
