As she tries to escape her poor Chicago neighborhood by winning a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, shy and studious eighth-grader Patrice discovers that she has more options in life than she previously realized.

"Kristin Masterwood and her boyfriend, Kane Hill, up the ante by going into her attic to re-enact scenes described in Christopher Dollanganger's diary"--Provided by publisher.

A disillusioned business executive seeking to escape from his tyrannical father's shadow and a psychotherapist with a tragic past discover unexpected healing, freedom, and love in the solitude of a Miramar Bay retreat.

A chance encounter between two childhood friends, including one who escaped an abusive father, reveals how their fortunes have reversed. "[A] tale of two men whose accidental meeting one morning recalls their boyhood thirty-five years ago. Back then, Tommy was separated from his sisters after he stood up to their abusive father. Jim was by Tommy's side through it all. But one winter night, a chance event on a frozen lake forever changes the balance...

"[This] novel [tells the story of] a family struggling to connect with one another and find meaning in their own lives"--Amazon.com.

"A family on the verge of self-destruction finds themselves isolated in their bathroom during a tornado warning."--Back cover.

"A small, declining town in Ohio. A family bereaved by terrible loss. A searing narrative about how American lives touch each other across divides both real and imagined... Set in failing small town in central Ohio, The Heart of It All asks how one manages, in an America of increasing division, to find a sense of family and community. Focusing on the members of three families: the Baileys, a white family who have put down deep roots in the community;...

"When Lizzy Beresford discovers a threatening letter addressed to her, the words on the old, tattered paper chill her to the bone. But who sent it? Living in pretty cottage in a quiet country village, Lizzy's never made any enemies in her life -- except her sister. Lizzy hasn't spoken to Emma in years. Not since the argument which tore their relationship apart. Would her sister really want to cause her harm after all this time? As Lizzy receives more...

"Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. For the competitive former chess prodigy, returning to her family's failing criminal defense law firm to work for her father is the best shot she has. With the right moves, she hopes to restore the family's reputation, her relationship with her father, and her career. Keera's chance to play in the big leagues...