Declared “a writer to watch” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), New York Times bestselling author María Dueñas pours heart and soul into this story of a woman who discovers the power of second chances. A talented college professor in Madrid, Blanca Perea seems to have it all. But her world is suddenly shattered when her husband of twenty years leaves her for another woman. Questioning the life she once had and whether she truly knows herself, Blanca resolves to change her surroundings. She accepts what looks like a boring research grant in California involving an exiled Spanish writer who died decades ago. Anxious to leave her own troubled life behind, she is gradually drawn into his haunted world, with its poignant loves and unfulfilled ambitions. But in delving into the past, Blanca finds herself simultaneously awakened to the present by Daniel Carter, a charismatic professor with crucial knowledge about the dead writer that he has never before revealed. Amid this web of passion, conflict, and hidden feelings, including her own, Blanca advances like an avid detective, refusing to quit, and ultimately discovers startling answers that resonate deeply in her own life. Evocative, lyrical, and humorous, The Heart Has Its Reasons is a journey of the soul from the pangs of the past to the vibrant present. It is a story about the thrill of creating one’s life anew.

'Startlingly original stories.' S Magazine 'Together they assert that love is more heart-breaking and transforming that the word necessarily conveys.' Observer Love is not a singular concept. In this collection, seven award-winning authors explore seven concepts of love: from Philautia, self-love, to Agape, love for humanity; and from Storge, a natural affection for family, to Mania, a frenzied, obsessive love. Seven authors; seven short stories; seven flashes of love. 'Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold.' Zelda Fitzgerald This paperback edition of How Much the Heart Can Hold includes the winning short story from the SceptreLoves short story Prize.

The poet Emily Dickinson's love affair with the eminent Judge Otis Phillips Lord, eighteen years older and her father's best friend, begins in her childhood and evolves over the years into passion. As Emily and Phil struggle with her need for privacy and his power as a man of the world, they stir up the troubled Dickinson family. Despite illness and the hostility of their greedy and jealous relatives, Emily contrives a secret rendezvous in Salem with the big, tempestuous man she calls Little Phil, and they even talk of marriage. Their courage to defy convention inspires the poet's unforgettable art. Poet, scriptwriter, and essayist Susan Snively lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, and works as a guide at the Emily Dickinson Museum. This is her first novel.

To build a future, sometimes you have to tear down the past... Chicago event planner Libby Hamilton can turn any bland setting into a dramatic venue--but when she abruptly loses her job, and her fair-weather boyfriend moves to another state, Libby suddenly finds herself back in the tiny town she grew up in. Worse than that, her father wants help transforming an old schoolhouse into a vintage ice cream parlor and Libby must trade in her power suits for power tools. Widowed restoration specialist Tom Murphy can rebuild just about anything--except the shattered relationship he shares with his teenaged daughter. Hired by Libby's father, Tom isn't interested in sharing the details of his personal life with beautiful, spunky Libby. He just wants to get the job done. But she is tenacious--and sexy--and it doesn't take long before she breaks down his walls, builds up his hope, and gets a hold on his heart that won't let go.

Celebrate feelings in all their shapes and sizes in this New York Times bestselling picture book from the Growing Hearts series! Happiness, sadness, bravery, anger, shyness . . . our hearts can feel so many feelings! Some make us feel as light as a balloon, others as heavy as an elephant. In My Heart explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside, with language that is lyrical but also direct to empower readers to practice articulating and identifying their own emotions. With whimsical illustrations and an irresistible die-cut heart that extends through each spread, this gorgeously packaged and unique feelings book is sure to become a storytime favorite.

This collection of stories covers the various facets of love: the way we feel for the different people we encounter, and the way in which love evolves for spouses, parents, children, and friends. God gave mankind the ability to love; however, life gives us changes and challenges. The things which test us throughout our lives also sway the depth of our devotion. As if it came from the separate, yet connected, chambers in our hearts, love is different for every person and every circumstance. We are a compilation of events, and the memories we carry affect our choices and ability to feel and express love. Most of us will fi nd it; some of us may embrace it, and others might never know love at all. As varied as the locales, the main characters in each story speak for themselves. Some are rich, and some are poor, but most of them are simply common people. They are young and old, male and female. If you look closely, you may even fi nd a spirit or a pixie hiding betwixt the pages.