"Racy scholarship does the Grizzly Bear here with theoretical rigor." —William Lhamon, author of Raising Cain Everybody’s Doin’ It is the eye-opening story of popular music’s seventy-year rise in the brothels, dance halls, and dives of New York City. It traces the birth of popular music, including ragtime and jazz, to convivial meeting places for sex, drink, music, and dance. Whether coming from a single piano player or a small band, live music was a nightly feature in New York’s spirited dives, where men and women, often black and white, mingled freely—to the horror of the elite. This rollicking demimonde drove the development of an energetic dance music that would soon span the world. The Virginia Minstrels, Juba, Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin and his hit “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” and the Original Dixieland Jass Band all played a part in popularizing startling new sounds. Musicologist Dale Cockrell recreates this ephemeral underground world by mining tabloids, newspapers, court records of police busts, lurid exposés, journals, and the reports of undercover detectives working for social-reform organizations, who were sent in to gather evidence against such low-life places. Everybody’s Doin’ It illuminates the how, why, and where of America’s popular music and its buoyant journey from the dangerous Five Points of downtown to the interracial black and tans of Harlem.

Social media comedian and southern sweetheart Heather Land delivers her hilarious and unfiltered wisdom on the frustrating everyday moments that drive us crazy. Heather Land has something to say about almost everything in life—the unbelievable, inconceivable, and downright frustrating—and why she “ain’t doin’ it.” Now, Heather shines a light on the (occasional) ridiculousness of life through a series of hilarious essays, dishing on everything from Walmart and ex-husbands to Southern beauty pageants and unfortunate trips to the gynecologist. I Ain’t Doin’ It reminds us that when it comes to life’s messy moments, it’s all about perspective—and that we too can say, I ain’t doin’ it! Perfect for fans of Jim Gaffigan, Anjelah Johnson, and Brian Regan, I Ain’t Doin’ It is a fun, breezy read for anyone who appreciates someone who tells it like it is and wants to embrace the lighter side of life.

When Harlee met Jake, she knew life would be different. She had someone who loved her even with the crazy schedule and the tour stops. She'd been left with one of the biggest decisions she'd ever have to make. When she finally made it, it meant she might just lose him altogether. Schedules were always going to conflict, but she thought it would've been easier. Jake knew being with someone who was constantly on the road meant a lot of time alone, and he expected it. What he never expected was missing her so much the minute she had left. Would he be able to stand being alone for months while she toured the country? He thought diving into a new job would help but he only missed her more. Grace thought she had it all. She married the perfect guy and ended up having to make the hardest decision she'd ever made. Watching Jake and Harlee was enough to make her see what she wanted, but would the choice she made ruin any chance at being happy? Mistakes are made, lessons learned and heartache suffered, but would the choice they made get them through it all? A story of love on the road to happiness.

A man ruled by his gun meets a woman led by her heart in a dazzling western historical romance from the bestselling author of Shameless. When Moss Tucker smells danger, he shoots it. When he needs shelter, he grabs it. And when he wants a woman’s touch, he buys it. But then he sees Amanda Boone’s sparkling azure eyes—an innocent beauty like her would never get involved with a law-breaking man like him. Chestnut-haired Amanda tries to keep her gaze on the vast frontier that flashes past her train window—but it keeps straying to the buckskin-clad stranger. Every inch of him is virile and strong. She knows it’s wrong to even think of his muscular arms crushing her soft curves in a fierce embrace. Yet she vows that before the trip is over he will be the one to tame her savage desire with his wild and lawless love. “Bittner’s characters spring to life . . . Extraordinary for the depth of emotion with which they are portrayed.” —Publishers Weekly

In the second Lemmy Caution novel, the FBI man is sent by his bosses to Casablanca to investigate the disappearance of two million dollars, which have seemingly vanished into thin air. There he meets Carlotta de la Rue, the eponymous Poison Ivy, whose character is based on a true-life femme fatale nightclub singer. Lemmy soon uncovers a gang of gold smugglers, whose boss might be Rudy Saltierra, Carlotta's boyfriend. She, in turn, may or may not be on Lemmy's side ... This is vintage Cheyney, with a stunning twist.

Miss Dodge fl ees her uncles desperate efforts to match her with an entirely unacceptable candidate, someone who holds his hefty IOUs. She is under the false impression that she has a choice in the matter. After meeting him, she decides it is an impossible hazard she intends to avoid. Escaping, her sister and aunt join her in flight to the New World, America. Her sister Rebekah answers a mail-order-bride ad in the newspaper, and they are off to another adventure in Fort Worth, Texas. The antics of cowboy Ben and Miss Dodge leaveboth of them wondering about the others sanity. She is forced to escape again, this time from a large cat, which is entirely too close for comfort. An accurate last-minute shot by Mr. Franklin rescued her. Ben is glad his brother fi nds love with Rebekah Dodge, but her sister is frustrating, always requiring saving from danger. No one knows how Miss Dodge fi nds herself in such threatening troubles can Ben be attracted to this English gal who is feisty, confusing, and lovable all rolled into one beautiful package? How can he not?