Showing results by narrator "Hallie Ricardo" in All Categories

Hey, I’m Italian is an insider's look at growing up Italian in New York. Abducted at gunpoint, being bitten on the nose by the family dog two days before my wedding, and paying for a lavish Hawaiian honeymoon only to learn that our travel agent had absconded with our money, were but a few of the events that shaped my life. But growing up Italian in New York, well that can really shake you up.

Every day Zoe struggles to keep going. The cruel winter took her father's life and left her angry and broken-hearted. As she carries her little brother through a snowstorm that could kill him in minutes, her only thought is finding shelter. The cabin beyond the woods is far from the place of safety she hoped it would be, but it is there that she meets a man whose muscular body marked with strange and primitive tattoos hints at an extraordinary story. He has the power to light up the lake, and with it Zoe's world.

The completed By Design Trilogy is here! Anne is a young, Southern professional with just the right connections and a privileged point of view. Confident in her innate value, she has complete faith in her power to control her own future. After all, even with the challenges that come with working at a high-profile interior-design firm located in the heart of Atlanta, she knows exactly where she’s headed. What she doesn’t expect is Dr. Brad Young, Jr.  

When Bianca appears late one night at her brother’s house in Santa Ana, she is barely conscious, though not alone. Jubilee, wrapped in a fuzzy pink romper, is buckled into a car seat. Jubilee, who Bianca feeds and clothes and bathes and loves. Jubilee, who Bianca could not leave behind. Jubilee, a doll in her arms. Told in alternating points of view, Jubilee reveals both the haunting power of our lived experiences and the surreal possibility of the present to heal the past.

The third and last novel of the By Design Trilogy continues the journey of Anne and Brad as they make their way through the many complications, heartaches, and joys of life. Inevitably, they begin to think of their own mortality as the years move forward. Anne thinks of her mother a lot these days. Even though her mother's life had ended way too soon, Gretchen had managed to prepare her daughter well--she left a legacy to be envied. Now, after so many years, that legacy has the daunting task of seeing Anne through. Will life be gentle with Anne?

Anne and Brad Young’s love for one another continues to blossom. The talented, young, southern designer inspires a depth of new emotions in the handsome surgeon as he finds her love for everyone in her path a magnetic force he cannot resist. But ... can he overcome his frustration with her independent ways?

Anne is a young, Southern professional with just the right connections and a privileged point of view. Confident in her innate value, she has complete faith in her power to control her own future. After all, even with the challenges that come with working at a high-profile interior design firm located in the heart of Atlanta, she knows exactly where she’s headed. What she doesn’t expect is Dr. Brad Young, Jr.

Mellie has always been the reliable friend, the good student, the doting daughter. But when an unspeakable act leads her to withdraw from everyone she loves, she is faced with a life-altering choice - a choice she must face alone. Lise stands up - and speaks out - for what she believes in. And when she notices Mellie acting strangely, she gets caught up in trying to save her…all while trying to protect her own secret. One that might be the key to helping Mellie.

Sixteen-year-old science-geek Eve gets pregnant on a service trip over her winter break, and pro-life Mom and pro-choice Dad want her to study both sides of the abortion debate to figure out what to do. The unaware father Adam is still serving as a volunteer at the Dominican Republic orphanage where they met. Since there's no WiFi at the orphanage, he looks forward to being able to text and Face Time with Eve once he gets back to Germany in mid-August. By then, she'll be eight months pregnant - or not.

From 1942-1960: Emily lives the first 18 years of her life on her grandfather’s farm with a burden of misfortune and hardship. When the school board forces Grandfather’s hand, Emily is allowed to attend school. She experiences her first real friendship, the thrill and pain of an innocent young love, and a secret she bears alone. Just days after her 18th birthday, her bag is packed, and she’s ready to start a new life. When someone tries to stop her - and ends up dead - Emily escapes the horror and hops a train out west.

Leaving town when she was 18 had been Laura's only option. She feared a stifling existence in a town ruled by its past, its mythological devotion to Mark Twain, and the economic and racial divide that runs as deep as the Mississippi River. She can't forget that fateful Fourth of July when the levees broke or the decisions that still haunt her. Now, as the Mississippi rises again, a deep wound threatens to reopen, and Laura must decide if running away once more might be the best way to save herself.

After years of looking for a place to belong, Paula Andrews finally finds her niche in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Her soap and candle shop flourishes, and her friendship with the Papadopoulos family gives her the love and support she never got from her own family. The only thing missing is a romance - or, in the grand hopes of the Papadopoulos family, a proper marriage.

Althea's mother's absence has been palpable her entire life - always felt but rarely mentioned by Althea or her father. Althea was only told that her mother fell ill shortly after Althea was born. But when a mysterious woman turns up wounded on Althea's doorstep, the truth about her mother reveals itself in a way that promises to uproot Althea's entire life.

Have you ever been so low that you cried while eating a sandwich, or so high that you bought three pizzas and got into a stranger's van? No? Live those ugly truths (and several pretty hilarious lies) vicariously through a compilation of Crissy Milazzo's best essays.

In the wake of her mother's death, Emma finds solace - and parallels to her own life - in the whales that she watches with her father.

The Fehler sisters wanted to be more than bug girls but growing up in a fourth-generation family pest-control business in rural Missouri, their path was fixed. The family talked about Fehler Family Exterminating at every meal, even when their mom said to separate the business from the family, an impossible task. They tried to escape work with trips to their trailer camp on the Mississippi River, but the sisters did more fighting than fishing. If only there was a son to lead rural Missouri insect control and guide the way through a crumbling patriarchy.

Another magical clue takes Lily Antony to a burned-down house in Colorado with her fave werewolf by her side. The house might be ruined, but the magical message hidden in the walls remains. Someone wants to keep Lily from finding out about her world-traveling mother, but Lily has a Winnebago and will travel, and the truth is going to come out. Lily and Romeo decipher her mother’s message and end up back on the road - this time heading to Mexico and a potion witch with a few secrets of her own. The witch, having made some bad deals, is in trouble herself.

Lily Antony is a young witch playing in a very dangerous treasure hunt. She’s got to follow the clues her mom left behind after her disappearance trekking the world. Maybe even put the pieces of her life back together with each one. First stop - get that cute guy Romeo to help her out. It never hurts to have a werewolf along for the ride. Especially since Lily thinks her mom is still alive - and no one else does. Doubters are going to hate...and chase Lily and Romeo all over the world. Sounds like these doubters have something to hide?

Chestnut is a dog without a family. After being abandoned in the wild, Chestnut is wandering the North Carolina countryside trying to survive. When 12-year-old Meg stumbles upon him on the outskirts of her family’s Christmas tree farm, she just knows that they’re meant to be together forever. The only problem? The farm is on the brink of closing down, and her family can’t afford a pet. Meg knows she has what it takes to save the business and take care of Chestnut—she’ll just need to keep him a secret until then. Will Meg and Chestnut get their Christmas miracle?

How far would you go to save the only family you have left? Victoria "Vic" Asher is finally finding some balance in her life. Though she's still reeling from her parents' death in a plane crash, she's content with waiting tables at the Clock; window shopping with her best friend, Tiffany; and hanging out with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Chad. But when she receives a mysterious package in the mail from her brother, Gil - a law student doing research in Italy - she knows immediately that he's in danger.