Hearts of Men

A father and son find new meaning in Christmas, in this uplifting and poignant novella by the author of When You Went Away. The New York Times–bestselling author revisits the characters in When You Went Away in this heartwarming holiday novella. Gerry Rubato has been marked by loss and revived by love, and his son Reese, now six, is a happy, joyful child-but Reese is just beginning to understand that he was robbed of the chance of ever knowing his late mother. Reese is old enough now to get caught up in the excitement of the Christmas season, and he throws himself into it with abandon. His sense of celebration takes on entirely new levels of meaning, though, when it leads him to an unexpected and most remarkable discovery . . . At once buoyant and moving, and filled with irrepressible Christmas spirit, A Winter Discovery is a story that will take you to new places in your heart. Praise for the Hearts of Men novels "Deeply emotional, totally romantic." -Susan Elizabeth Phillips, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Simply the Best and Kiss an Angel "Wry, tender, beautifully written." -Lisa Kleypas, New York Times–bestselling author of the Wallflower novels

USA Today–Bestselling Author: A "simply beautiful" novel of three lost people looking for the elusive paths that will lead them to where they need to be (Minding Spot). Newly revised and expanded, including four recipes! Joseph, in his late thirties, awakens disoriented and uneasy in a place he doesn't recognize. He doesn't know where he is and has no way to contact his wife. He sets out to find his way home with no sense of where he's going and only the precious, indelible vision of the woman he loves to guide him. Antoinette is an elderly woman in an assisted living facility. In the last few months, the world has seemed increasingly confusing. So she retreats inside her head. There, her body and mind haven't betrayed her. There, she's a young newlywed with a husband who dotes on her and an entire life of dreams to live. There, she is truly home. Rene, Antoinette's son, is going through the toughest year of his life. His marriage ended, he lost his job, and his mother has recently gone from hale to increasingly hazy. With too much time on his hands, he decides to try to recreate his memories of home by attempting to cook his mother's greatest dishes and eat them with her. Joseph, Antoinette, and Rene are three people on different searches for home. How they find it, and how they connect with each other at this critical stage in their lives, is the foundation for this profound and deeply moving story from the author of The Forever Year and Flash and Dazzle. "Hauntingly poignant and beautifully moving." -Coffee Time Romance "Nicholas Sparks fans will love this heartwarming read." -Book Loons

New York Times–Bestselling Author: A "mesmerizing," deeply emotional novel of secrets, sacrifice, and a love beyond time (Long and Short Reviews). Ken and Melissa are at the dawn of a magnificent life together; a passionate romance has led them to the doorstep of marriage. While searching for the perfect wedding present for Melissa, Ken stumbles into a mysterious shop. There, he is given an extraordinary opportunity: to look in on Melissa when she was a little girl. Ken has always wished he could have known Melissa from the day she was born and this seems like a blessing-until he discovers a terrible secret in Melissa's past, one so awful it's no surprise she has failed to mention it to him. Now Ken has another incredible chance. He can go back in time and change the horrible event that has left an indelible mark on Melissa. He can free her of this burden-but doing so could change things so completely that they might never meet. Ken has repeatedly told Melissa that he would do anything for her. But can he do this? "A beautiful romance novel." -Crystal Book Reviews "A mix of magic and magnificent love. . . . An incredible love story of soul mates finding their way to each other through a maze strewn with obstacles." -Long and Short Reviews "[Anything] is a terrific whimsical romance as caring Ken learns sometimes even a knight in shining armor regretfully gets what he wished for." -Midwest Book Review

A moving and insightful novel about an impossible love triangle by the "exceptionally gifted," New York Times–bestselling author of Anything (Fresh Fiction). Hugh Penders has been stuck in neutral for nearly a decade since his brother, Chase, died in an accident. He carries with him two secrets that he's never been able to share with anyone: that he believes he might have been able to prevent the tragedy, and that he was deeply in love with Chase's girlfriend, Iris. When Hugh's father suffers a debilitating heart attack, Hugh must return to the New England home he's been running away from for the past ten years. One day, he encounters Iris-who has long since moved away-on the street. They begin a friendship, and Hugh believes he's falling in love with Iris all over again. But the ghost of Chase haunts them both. And when each reveals a truth the other never knew, their lives, their visions of Chase, and their chances for a future together will change forever, in this soulful, romantic novel charged by the power of desire and the impact of loss. "A joy to read." -Long and Short Reviews "This emotional story is about a man coming to terms with his past and trying to figure out his future. Excellent." -RT Book Reviews

USA Today Bestseller: This "emotionally rich" novel of a father, a son, and a lesson in love is "pure pleasure from beginning to end" (Susan Elizabeth Phillips, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Dance Away with Me). Jesse Sienna doesn't believe that love can last. His parents' marriage was caring but passionless, and his own romantic history tells him that love can burn bright, but that it cannot burn for long. So when his elderly father, Mickey, moves in with him and seems unable to understand Jesse's no-strings-attached relationship with Marina, his current girlfriend, Jesse barely pays attention. It's just another example of how different they are-and more evidence that he and his father will never connect on any meaningful level. But the truth is, Mickey Sienna knows more about love than most people learn in a lifetime. Over half a century ago, he discovered the endless rewards of investing your heart and soul in someone . . . and he knows the devastating costs of letting the perfect someone slip by. Mickey sees Jesse taking an extraordinary woman for granted and decides it's time to tell Jesse his story-a story he's never shared with any of his children before. It is a tale that will change both of them profoundly. "A wry, tender, beautifully written novel. . . . Once I started, I couldn't put it down." -Lisa Kleypas, New York Times–bestselling author of Secrets of a Summer Night "Better than Nicholas Sparks's best. There's more wit, more wisdom, and yes, there are tears." -John R. Maxim, New York Times–bestselling author of The Shadow Box "A warm, engaging story [that] is well structured and funny and keeps you turning the pages till the very end. . . . It may even make you rethink your own attitude toward love." -Suzanne Vega, multiplatinum recording artist

"Nicholas Sparks fans will rejoice to hear there's a new male author on the scene who writes beautifully about love and emotionally charged relationships." -RT Book Reviews Only a few months ago, Gerry Rubato had everything he thought he needed from life. After nearly twenty years of marriage, he was still passionately in love with his college sweetheart, he had a bright, independent-minded daughter, and he had the surprising addition of a new child on the way. Then everything changed with stunning rapidity. With little explanation, Gerry's daughter ran away with her older boyfriend. Then, only a month after giving birth to their son, his wife died suddenly. Now, Gerry needs to be everything to his infant child while he contends with two losses he can barely comprehend. And when a woman walks into his life as a friend and their relationship verges on something more, Gerry must redefine all that he knows about himself, about love, about loyalty, and about his dreams. "Lou Aronica writes with deep sensitivity of the power of love to transform and heal in the face of overwhelming tragedy. A lovely read." -Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Lost and Found Bookshop "Tears of sadness and joy go hand in hand in this immensely satisfying story." -RT Book Reviews

A carefree man takes on an unexpected commitment, in this book by a USA Today–bestselling author of "deeply emotional, totally romantic novels" (Susan Elizabeth Phillips, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Kiss an Angel). Dylan Hunter has it made. At twenty-nine, he has great friends, a fantastic job, all the women he can handle, and no commitments. A public relations executive, Dylan has dashed up the ladder of success by mastering the art of the spin-bending the truth to his and his clients' needs. So why does he feel restless, unsatisfied, dreaming of something more? Then a former lover steps back into his life with a three-year-old girl named Spring-no, she's not his-and Dylan suddenly finds himself in a situation he can't talk himself out of. When Dylan unexpectedly becomes the child's sole guardian, he starts to feel like a circus performer keeping all his spinning plates from crashing to the ground. In what seems like the blink of an eye, Dylan Hunter's life has changed completely-whether he's ready for it or not . . . "Humor that sparkles, and characters that stir up a wealth of emotions." -Long and Short Reviews "A talented writer." -Crystal Book Reviews on Flash and Dazzle

From the New York Times–bestselling author of The Forever Year, a "poignant" novel about best friends in crisis (Long and Short Reviews). Rich Flaster and Eric Dazman-aka Flash and Dazzle-have been friends since their college days, and they remain as tight as ever as their work starts attracting praise and attention in the advertising industry. Now Rich is being wooed by a high-profile agency in downtown Manhattan-but they have no interest in hiring his creative partner. Before Rich can bring himself to tell his best friend about the job offer, Eric receives a far more devastating piece of news: an upsetting medical diagnosis. His shy, beautiful sister arrives to give him support, and Rich is faced with an emotional challenge. He's deceived his friend-however, there are a lot of things Eric hasn't shared with him either. Suddenly, breaking up this two-man team takes on a more painful meaning-and, with time a precious commodity, Flash and Dazzle have to get past the superficial and connect on a deeper level. Flash and Dazzle is a story of men who have known the best of times as they come to grips with the worst of times, and of the friends and lovers who enter their orbit in relationships both brief and enduring. It is a story of legacies, burdens, and the kinds of secrets that are only revealed when there's nothing left to tell. Funny, moving, and honest, it will inspire you to call everyone you care about and thank them for what they've given you. "A master storyteller. . . . He stirs emotions and senses that bring tears and laughter." -Long and Short Reviews "A dynamic contemporary novel . . . fully engaging and worthwhile reading. Lou Aronica is a talented writer who uses subtlety rather than explicit description to depict the normalcy, quirkiness and fluctuations of honest characters." -Crystal Book Reviews "Rich Flaster and Eric Dazman are so real; the reader will feel like they are part of the duo's close knit friends." -Literarily Illumined