A fast-paced semi-memoir about diners, drugs, and California in the 1970s Over Easy is a brilliant portrayal of a familiar coming-of-age story. After being denied financial aid to cover her last year of art school, Margaret finds salvation from the straightlaced world of college and the earnestness of both hippies and punks in the wisecracking, fast-talking, drug-taking group she encounters at the Imperial Café, where she makes the transformation from Margaret to Madge. At first she mimics these new and exotic grown-up friends, trying on the guise of adulthood with some awkward but funny stumbles. Gradually she realizes that the adults she looks up to are a mess of contradictions, misplaced artistic ambitions, sexual confusion, dependencies, and addictions. Over Easy is equal parts time capsule of late 1970s life in California—with its deadheads, punks, disco rollers, casual sex, and drug use—and bildungsroman of a young woman who grows from a naïve, sexually inexperienced art-school dropout into a self-aware, self-confident artist. Mimi Pond's chatty, slyly observant anecdotes create a compelling portrait of a distinct moment in time. Over Easy is an immediate, limber, and precise semi-memoir narrated with an eye for the humor in every situation.

Welcome to the seedy underbelly of nursery crime. From the New York Times bestselling author of the Thursday Next series comes a rollicking novel—“as if the Marx brothers were let loose in the children’s section of a strange bookstore” (USA Today). “A wonderfully readable riot . . . cleverly plotted, magically overstuffed yet amazingly digestible . . . [for] anyone who wants the thrill of a good crime novel larded with highly literate humor.”—The Wall Street Journal Meet Inspector Jack Spratt, family man and head of Reading’s Nursery Crime division. He’s investigating the murder of ovoid D-class nursery celebrity Humpty Dumpty, ex-convict and lover of women, found shattered to death beneath a wall in a shabby area of town. Yes, the big egg is down, and all those brittle pieces sitting in the morgue point to foul play. Spratt and his new partner, Sergeant Mary Mary, search through Humpty’s sordid past in hopes of finding the key to his death. Before long, Jack and Mary find themselves immersed in a bizarre case that reaches into the highest echelons of Reading society and business.

Here are 125 recipes to tackle any brunch craving—from juices and coffees, to breads, eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, salads, and definitely bacon.

“Another fun novel full of humor, quirky country sayings, and descriptions of tantalizing comfort food meals” by the author of Biscuits and Slashed Browns (Kings River Life Magazine). Restaurateur Robbie Jordan is ready for the boost in business a local music festival brings to South Lick, Indiana, but the beloved event strikes a sour note when one of the musicians is murdered . . . June’s annual Brown County Bluegrass Festival at the Bill Monroe Music Park in neighboring Beanblossom is always a hit for Robbie’s country store and café, Pans ’N Pancakes. This year, Robbie is even more excited, because she’s launching a new bed and breakfast above her shop. A few festival musicians will be among Robbie’s first guests, along with her father, Roberto, and his wife, Maria. But the celebration is cut short when a performer is found choked to death by a banjo string. Now all the banjo players are featured in a different kind of lineup. To clear their names, Robbie must pair up with an unexpected partner to pick at the clues and find the plucky killer before he can conduct an encore performance . . . Includes Recipes! “Let me tell you the scene with the murderer is epic. Truly, there should be an award for the best encounter and climatic scene in a mystery, this book has it.”—Bibliophile.reviews

When Sam cares for some abandoned duck eggs, he learns something about his father, who moved out but still writes him weekly.

A taboo romance. A destiny revealed. Secrets uncovered. The school year continues, and I’m digging more and more into my family history. It’s been shrouded in darkness for too long. But the more I poke into my mother’s shadowed past, the more I wonder if history is repeating itself. Along my way, I’ve found an unlikely ally in fellow Prime Logan Brooks. While my partially bonded mate, Ashe is away serving in the Dragonborn Militia, Logan is here for me. He’s helping me navigate my way, and telling me everything I want to hear from Ashe… As feelings develop for both, but I know I can’t lead the other on. I thought I was meant to be with Ashe… but maybe I have a choice after all. I’m solving this Dragonborn puzzle one piece at a time. I just need to hope that it isn’t tearing me apart as I do. Reviews for the series: “the chemistry, the romance, the anger, the betrayal just wow!... in my top 5 reads!!” – Goodreads reviewer “Wonderfully written… impossible to put down.” – Goodreads reviewer “Wow! Absolutely loved this book, cannot wait for the next in the series.” – Goodreads reviewer The Dragon Born Academy Series: 1. Cracked Open 2. Over Easy 3. Hard Boiled 4. Frying Night

This language-learning system offers the chance to quickly and efficiently develop the practical Italian needed for travel. 2 CDs with 90 minutes of material feature phrases and sentences spoken first in English and then in Italian, followed by a pause for repetition. The accompanying 80-page manual contains each word and phrase on the CDs.