There is a universal longing to live near the water. . .and this inspiring book can make that dream come true.

Three women learn what it means to come home--and to make peace with the family, love affairs, and memories they'd once left behind--in this stunning and perceptive debut novel. River Bend, Michigan, is the kind of small town most can't imagine leaving but three women couldn't wait to escape. When each must return--Linda Williams, never sure what she wants; her mother, Paula, always too sure; and Beth DeWitt, one of River Bend's only black daughters, now a mother of two who'd planned to raise her own children anywhere else--their paths collide under Beth's father's roof. As one town struggles to contain all of their love affairs and secrets, a local scandal forces Beth to confront her own devastating past. Uniting the voices of mothers and daughters, husbands, lovers, and fathers, this unforgettable debut novel offers both a compulsively readable family story and a riveting portrait of small-town America today. With wisdom, humor, and exceptional heart, The House of Deep Water explores motherhood, trauma, love, loss, and new beginnings found in that most unlikely place: home.

There are contradictory attitudes toward temporary marriage in Iranian society. The proponents consider it as a means to prevent social degradation and moral corruption while the opponents take it as a pleasure-seeking tool for men in violation of the rights of children and women. This study supports the view that temporary marriage is a back door to sexual exploitation. According to the study’s findings, mut'ah is a practice that lacks redeeming values and positive functions. Rather, it causes harms such as child marriage, the collapse of the family foundation, negative attitudes towards permanent marriage, the promotion of corruption and violations of women’s rights. Many women agree to be subjected to sexual exploitation because they lack economic rights and a sense of security. As an institution, it is not without controversy. In fact, child marriage is partly the result of the tradition of sigheh mahramiat which paves the road for increase of child marriage in Iran. It is performed in some Iranian families when their sons and daughters are in early puberty, or even before then, to supervise the sexual behaviour of children, to prevent them from committing a sin, for fear of girls’ solitude at older ages, to fight against social and cultural pressures related to communication between young girls and boys (which are more obvious in small communities), and to facilitate smoother relations between two families. The religious and traditional stratum of the Iranian society performs sigheh / sigheh mahramiat and continues to follow this tradition. Both the country’s laws and the jurisprudence treat the permanent and temporary marriages the same although they are different in nature and so far temporary marriage has not been addressed as an independent subject. The religious and legal ambiguities surrounding sigheh and temporary marriage and inattention to Iran’s social circumstances lead to grave consequences such as child marriage, school drop-out, violation of women’s rights and in particular physical and emotional vulnerabilities of women and girls. Revision of laws pertaining to sigheh/temporary marriage while considering the social characteristics of the society can serve as a key solution to minimize these negative impacts

A House Made of Water is a lyrical examination of daughterhood, womanhood, and Asian American identity. Elusive, but tactile, the collection wrestles beautifully with trauma and our inherited stories, seeking transformation throughout. What I love most is the intimacy of detail: the difficult weight of memory, the exquisite relief of disclosure. Michelle Lin's debut is a document of deep feeling, in the vein of Li-Young Lee and Sylvia Plath, but told in a voice entirely her own. - CATHY LINH CHE, author of Split

Irresistible interiors that capture the essence of seaside living. Everyone dreams of a house by the sea, and this book presents the best examples of homes for escaping to the serenity of the seaside. Beautifully photographed interiors, exteriors, gardens, and patios offer a peek into these appealing homes, including Martha Stewart’s Seal Harbor, Maine, residence, Donna Karan’s Zen-like East Hampton retreat, Tommy Hilfiger’s Pop art–inspired Miami house, and Giorgio Armani’s Antigua getaway. Such top designers as Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Steven Gambrel, and Ken Fulk have decorated these lovely and inspiring homes—in quintessential seaside communities, including Block Island, Harbor Island, Malibu, and Martha’s Vineyard. A seaside house is a place to unwind in a relaxed setting—white floorboards, whimsical nautical touches, pastel tones, and vivid colors. Indoor-outdoor living is the norm. Yet it is also a place to entertain friends and family in style and can express a range of chic decorating and design tastes. From clean, modern beach houses to traditional-style cottages, these breathtaking interiors—presented by a team known for style and taste—will inspire homeowners, designers, and anyone who loves a water view.

Set in Lahore, This House of Clay and Water explores the lives of two women. Nida, intelligent and lonely, has married into an affluent political family and is desperately searching for meaning in her life, while impulsive, lovely Sasha, from the ordinary middle class, willingly consorts with rich men who can satisfy her frantic longing for designer labels and upmarket places. Nida and Sasha meet at the famous Daata Sahib Dargah and connect-their need to understand why their worlds feel so alien and empty bringing them together. On her frequent visits to the dargah, Nida also meets the gentle, flute-playing hijra Bhanggi, who sits under a bargadh tree and yearns for acceptance and affection, but is invariably shunned. A friendship-fragile, tentative and tender-develops between the two, both exiles within their own lives; but it flies in the face of all convention and cannot be allowed. Faiqa Mansab's accomplished and dazzling debut novel explores the themes of love, betrayal and loss in the complex, changing world of today's Pakistan.

‘What an emotional, twisty, rollercoaster of a novel! It kept me guessing all the way through.’ Alice Hunter, author of The Serial Killer’s Wife Sometimes the past is best left buried Since the birth of baby Joe five weeks ago, Ali Baker has been struggling to cope. Starved of sleep and haunted by painful memories from the past, she’s a million miles away from the polished, professional barrister she has worked so hard to become. Then her mother tragically and unexpectedly dies, leaving Ali an orphan. Haunted by her loss, Ali can’t forget her mother’s last words to her: There is something I really need to tell you... Heading back to the Norfolk Broads to sort her mother’s things, Ali is plunged into memories of her family’s picture-perfect summers on the river. But as she starts to uncover secrets hidden within the isolated house, Ali is drawn into a dark web that threatens to destroy everything she believed about her childhood – and her very sanity. Ali may finally discover her mother’s secrets... but at what cost? A gripping, captivating psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Samantha Hayes and S.E. Lynes. Perfect for book group reading - includes discussion questions. Readers are loving The House on the Water’s Edge: ‘A novel that gradually creeps under your skin... suffocatingly claustrophobic with an ‘oh my goodness’ finale!’ Carla Kovach, author of The Next Girl ‘Absorbing from start to finish. The climax is incendiary. It set my day on fire.’ Amanda Robson, author of Obsession ‘The creeping sense of doom reached its crescendo and did not disappoint. The twists and revelations left me reeling!’ Ruby Speechley, author of The Face at the Window ‘As I finished the last page, I nearly dropped my eReader! WHAT?!?! Definitely a book you’ll want to pick up!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘This gripping, twisty tale of family secrets and ancient lies coming home to roost is a real rollercoaster of emotion. I couldn’t put it down... What a fantastic read!’ Judi Daykin, author of Under Violent Skies ‘A sharp, twisty thriller filled with secrets... fantastic.’ Chris George, author of Guess Who ‘A completely engrossing story, full of intrigue and mystery, and with a dash of romance too. Brilliant!’ C.J. Cooper, author of The Book Club ‘Loved how the secrets started to unfold...With one final unexpected revelation at the end, this left me open mouthed.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘Loved this one!... Lots of twists and turns along the way. Definitely one I recommend.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘This psychological thriller was a never-ending journey of twists and turns... the author had you hanging onto her every word.’ ‘A really exciting and thrilling read... with lots of twists and turns.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘I wasn’t expecting the twist... I didn’t see it coming at all.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘Hard to put down... filled with secrets, childhood drama, and a lot of tragedy.’ Reader Review ‘I am definitely going to be looking for more from this author, highly recommend.’ Reader Review ‘I loved it. Well-written, fun to read, quick to finish.’ Reader Review ‘This was such a fast paced read! The plot was fabulous and I had no idea what to expect next... Which kept me on my toes.’ Reader Review ‘Isolation, lonely and creepy! It really opened up the more I read.’ Reader Review