A Cape Cod housewife deals secretly with an illness and confronts losing the home that has been the cornerstone of her family life.

Born in Boston and raised in the rowdy, loving atmosphere of a big Irish family, Lucy O'Malley was destined to follow in her father's footsteps and become a police officer.

As an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County and an old-money native of the South Fork of Long Island, Francis Pratt has proved herself a skillful lawyer. But nothing she has ever done could prepare her for the intrigue she becomes embroiled in upon the murder of a close relative. During the grueling search for the killer, Francis is forced to confront a family history which has divided those she holds most dear, and, ultimately, to expose the darker side of a community that has gone to great lengths to maintain its idyllic facade. Misfortune is a whirlwind tour of one of America's wealthiest communities that offers glimpses into the less than fairy-tale-like lives of its inhabitants.

Originally published: New York: Free Press, 2012.

How did Little Women-- the beloved literary classic and inspiration for Greta Gerwig's acclaimed feature film adaptation--come to be? This stunning biography explores the unique family and unusual circumstances of literary icon Louisa May Alcott. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. How did these cherished characters come to be? Louisa May Alcott, the author of one of the most famous "girl" books of all time, was anything but a well-mannered young lady. A tomboy as well as a ravenous reader, Louisa took comfort in fictional characters that were as passionate and willful as she was--and whose wild imaginations were a match for her own. She was often found roaming the woods near her home in Concord, Massachusetts, or exploring the natural world in the company of the great Transcendentalist thinkers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Here is a beautiful portrait of Louisa May Alcott, a woman influenced by her father, a penniless philosopher, her mother, with whom she shared a great connection, and, of course, her three sisters. Featuring unique indigo illustrations, Deborah Noyes unveils how Louisa's natural spirit, loving family, and unconventional circumstances inspired the timeless masterpiece that is Little Women.

“Alice is cast in the mold of a character created by an earlier Alcott, the passionate and spunky Jo March. A refreshingly old-fashioned heroine, she makes THE DARING LADIES OF LOWELL appealing” --The New York Times Book Review “Offers up a compelling slice of both feminist and Industrial Age history”--Christian Science Monitor From the New York Times bestselling author of THE DRESSMAKER comes a moving historical novel about a bold young woman drawn to the looms of Lowell, Massachusetts--and to the one man with whom she has no business falling in love. Eager to escape life on her family’s farm, Alice Barrow moves to Lowell in 1832 and throws herself into the hard work demanded of “the mill girls.” In spite of the long hours, she discovers a vibrant new life and a true friend—a saucy, strong-willed girl name Lovey Cornell. But conditions at the factory become increasingly dangerous, and Alice finds the courage to represent the workers and their grievances. Although mill owner, Hiram Fiske, pays no heed, Alice attracts the attention of his eldest son, the handsome and reserved Samuel Fiske. Their mutual attraction is intense, tempting Alice to dream of a different future for herself. This dream is shattered when Lovey is found strangled to death. A sensational trial follows, bringing all the unrest that’s brewing to the surface. Alice finds herself torn between her commitment to the girls in the mill and her blossoming relationship with Samuel. Based on the actual murder of a mill girl and the subsequent trial in 1833, THE DARING LADIES OF LOWELL brilliantly captures a transitional moment in America’s history while also exploring the complex nature of love, loyalty, and the enduring power of friendship.

From the author of Little Women: An American classic of young best friends in a rustic New England town. In post–Civil War New England, thirteen-year-old Jack Minot and Janey Pecq are inseparable best friends who live next door to each other in the town of Harmony Village. The pair does everything together—so much so that Janey is nicknamed “Jill” to fit the old children’s rhyme. One winter day, the friends share a sled down a treacherous hill and both end up injured and bedridden. Unable to go out and have fun, Jack, Jill, and their circle of friends begin to learn about more than the fun and games of their youth and discover what it means to grow up—exploring their town, their hearts, and the big, wide world beyond for the first time. This charming, wistful coming-of-age tale, written twelve years after Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women, examines the strange, tempestuous changes of adolescence with homespun heart and worldly wisdom.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott from Coterie Classics All Coterie Classics have been formatted for ereaders and devices and include a bonus link to the free audio book. “Watch and pray, dear, never get tired of trying, and never think it is impossible to conquer your fault.” ― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women Little Women is a children’s classic novel that still enthralls adult audiences. Telling the story of the March families trials and triumphs, Little Women is a story of love, friendship and family.