"This may well become the definitive biography of Carpenter....Pop music fans will appreciate this strong biography." —Library Journal, Starred Review Named a Financial Times 2023 Best Book of the Year – Pop Music Named one of The Times and The Sunday Times, UK 17 best rock and pop music books of 2023 A groundbreaking biography reevaluating the life and legacy of transcendent musician Karen Carpenter As one of the biggest-selling acts of the 1970s, the Carpenters are celebrated for their melodic pop and unforgettable hits like “Close to You,” “Yesterday,” and “Top of the World.” Though Karen is rightly recognized as one of the greatest singers in popular music, the tragedy of her early death in 1983 at the young age of just thirty-two sometimes overshadows her incredible achievements. She has often been portrayed as a victim, controlled by her family and exploited by the music industry. Forty years after her death, this biography reframes her life and legacy as a pioneering woman with her own vision and agency. With exclusive interviews with friends, musicians, and collaborators, bestselling author Lucy O’Brien explores Karen’s contributions as a singer, drummer, arranger, and producer, and traces the roots of the Carpenters’ iconic sound. Lead Sister also honors Karen’s triumphs in the face of her struggle with anorexia, providing contemporary perspectives on eating disorders and mental health. Despite the chronic nature of her illness, Karen Carpenter was, above all, a creative, dedicated, and assured artist whose music delivers an emotional resonance that has transcended generations—and that is how she should be remembered.

In the '60s and '70s, America's music scene was marked by raucous excess, reflected in the tragic overdoses of young superstars such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. At the same time, the uplifting harmonies and sunny lyrics that propelled Karen Carpenter and her brother, Richard, to international fame belied a different sort of tragedy—the underconsumption that led to Karen's death at age thirty-two from the effects of an eating disorder. In Why Karen Carpenter Matters, Karen Tongson (whose Filipino musician parents named her after the pop icon) interweaves the story of the singer’s rise to fame with her own trans-Pacific journey between the Philippines—where imitations of American pop styles flourished—and Karen Carpenter’s home ground of Southern California. Tongson reveals why the Carpenters' chart-topping, seemingly whitewashed musical fantasies of "normal love" can now have profound significance for her—as well as for other people of color, LGBT+ communities, and anyone outside the mainstream culture usually associated with Karen Carpenter’s legacy. This hybrid of memoir and biography excavates the destructive perfectionism at the root of the Carpenters’ sound, while finding the beauty in the singer's all too brief life.

David R. Mastbergen is the author of The Marvels of the Healer series. He was born in the Heartland in the city of Worthington, Minnesota. He was raised in Worthington until he enlisted into the United States Navy and spent the next twenty-plus years servicing his country. Upon retiring from the navy as a chief warrant officer, he spent nine-plus years working for the state of Minnesota. David has a Master of Arts degree in management from the College of St. Scholastica and a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Coleman College.

The second novel in a brilliant fantasy trilogy from the international bestselling author of Prince of Thorns. Behind its walls, the Convent of Sweet Mercy has trained young girls to hone their skills for centuries. In Mystic Class, Novice Nona Grey has begun to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the convent, Nona must choose which order to dedicate herself to—and whether her path will lead to a life of prayer and service or one of the blade and the fist. All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassin, the designs of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a knife, and the vengeance of the empire's richest lord. As the world narrows around her, and her enemies attack her through the system she is sworn to, Nona must find her own path despite the competing pulls of friendship, revenge, ambition, and loyalty. And in all this only one thing is certain: there will be blood.

The powerful and long-anticipated companion to The Skin I'm In, Sharon Flake's bestselling modern classic, presents the unflinching story of Char, a young woman trapped in the underworld of human trafficking. My feet are heavy as stones when I walk up the block wondering why I can't find my old self.In The Skin I'm In, readers saw into the life of Maleeka Madison, a teen who suffered from the ridicule she received because of her dark skin color. For decades fans have wanted to know the fate of the bully who made Maleeka's life miserable, Char.Now in Sharon Flake's latest and unflinching novel, The Life I'm In, we follow Charlese Jones, who, with her raw, blistering voice speaks the truths many girls face, offering insight to some of the causes and conditions that make a bully. Turned out of the only home she has known, Char boards a bus to nowhere where she is lured into the dangerous web of human trafficking. Much is revealed behind the complex system of men who take advantage of vulnerable teens in the underbelly of society. While Char might be frightened, she remains strong and determined to bring herself and her fellow victims out of the dark and back into the light, reminding us why compassion is a powerful cure to the ills of the world.Sharon Flake's bestselling, Coretta Scott King Award-winning novel The Skin I'm In was a game changer when it was first published more than twenty years ago. It redefined young adult literature by presenting characters, voices, and real-world experiences that had not been fully seen. Now Flake offers readers another timely and radical story of a girl on the brink and how her choices will lead her to either fall, or fly.

Caroline, known as “Lina” to her family, has always lived in the shadow of her older brother William Herschel’s accomplishments. And yet when William invites Lina to join him in England to assist in his musical and astronomical pursuits—not to mention to run his bachelor household—she accepts, finding a new sense of purpose. William may be an obsessive genius, but Lina adores him, and aids him with the same fervency as a beloved wife. When William decides to marry, however, Lina’s world collapses. As she attempts to rebuild a future, we witness the dawning of an early feminist consciousness—a woman struggling to find her own place among the stars.

‘I did something terrible Grace. I hope you can forgive me…’ Grace hasn't been the same since the death of her best friend Charlie. She is haunted by Charlie's last words, and in a bid for answers, opens an old memory box of Charlie's. It soon becomes clear there was a lot she didn't know about her best friend. When Grace starts a campaign to find Charlie's father, Anna, a girl claiming to be Charlie's sister steps forward. For Grace, finding Anna is like finding a new family, and soon Anna has made herself very comfortable in Grace and boyfriend Dan's home. But something isn't right. Things disappear, Dan's acting strangely and Grace is sure that someone is following her. Is it all in Grace's mind? Or as she gets closer to discovering the truth about both Charlie and Anna, is Grace in terrible danger? There was nothing she could have done to save Charlie... or was there? A compelling, gripping psychological thriller perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, I Let You Go and The Girl With No Past. What people are saying about The Sister: ‘I was gripped to The Sister from the first page until the very end. I thought I had it all worked out until I was proven sooo wrong.’ Robert Bryndza ‘I could not put this book down. I neglected all the house work and put off cooking dinner until I was finished… I loved every page.’ Renee Reads ‘My eyes were racing down the pages… had me guessing right up to the very end and I had tears in my eyes as I relived Charlie's last moments… exceptional… It's an addictive page-turner that begs time and again for just one more chapter until the whole book has been devoured and thoroughly enjoyed.’ The Book Magnet ‘Wow! What an amazing debut novel! Full of intense twists! Fantastic book to start off summer reading! Highly recommend.’ Loud and Proud Book Junkie, 5 stars ‘I loved this book, it grabbed me right from the beginning.' Beady Jans Books 'I genuinely struggled to put this book down… I can't recommend this book enough, it's made it to my favourites... I can't wait for more books to come from Louise Jensen… A well-deserved five stars from me.' Emporio Epidemic 'I couldn't put my Kindle down until I had answers!!… I wasn't sure which characters to trust and which to not trust… a 5 star book that would make a fantastic summer read!' Steph and Chris’ Book Review 'As the skillfully woven web of lies and deceit starts to untangle the author throws in a massive twist that I certainly didn't see coming… a definite must read for all psychological thriller fans and it's one of those books that deserves to be talked about.' The Haphazardous Hippo 'One of those books that you can't stop thinking about even when you're not reading it!!... the tension never seems to drop for one second!… an absolute treat, albeit a scary one, to read!! Highly recommended!' Books and Me! 'Just as I thought the story was wrapping up BANG! I was hit again with another twist. Brilliant! It is chilling and sinister and yet heart-breaking and tragic, and I felt really emotional on finishing it… I can’t wait to read more by Louise.' Bloomin Brilliant Books 'OMG I love this... one corker of a psychological thriller which ticked all the boxes for me giving it an easy 5 stars.' Chelle’s Book Reviews 'Hooked from the first page till the end... A gripping tale for fans of I Let You Go and The Girl on the Train. A must read.' Berlitz Chile 'I was left gaping… You cannot help but speed read through this novel. You have to know what happens.' Aloha Reviews 'I was hooked on the story from the word go.' Hollie in Wanderlust

The Battle for Andalon Rages as Our Heroes Plunge the World into Chaos Here is the second volume of T.B. Phillips’ action-packed series Dreamers of Andalon. Critics agree that his characters are so vivid they come to life, driving the reader to tears of both dread and celebration as he paints a world directly into your mind. This modern fantasy combines magic with emotion while promising political intrigue and adventure. Each page transports you to a realm of dueling worlds, one advanced and the other locked in the age of sail and pirates. Andalon Arises War has found Andalon unprepared. Robert Esterling faces a dire choice in his war against his brother – trust the dastardly Braen Braston and his band of pirates and outlaws, or continue to wait on defectors to join his cause. Finally controlling his power, he faces an imminent threat from a new foe, one that has joined forces with the Falconers and changed the battlefield forever. Braen and Eusari have delivered a new era to Pirate’s Cove, ushering in a time of peace and promised prosperity. Each now have their sights on the evil king of Fjorik, and scheme to end his reign of terror under the Braston sigil. This story also journeys to the southern continent as a father fights to reunite his family, enlisting the aid of a seasick landlubber and a fiery teen wielding her power without caution. A new danger threatens Andalon from across the sea, as Chancellor Jakata makes plans to send modern troops to quell the insurrection. While he struggles against the rise of terror in his own continent, a sister must decide whether to risk her life and reputation to interfere in or aid the plans made by her brother stirring up the chaos in Andalon. The Battle for Andalon is on and all Hands are on Deck!” ”In this dystopian vision, author T.B.Phillips has created a page-turner - a book that is challenging to read, but a very rewarding one. The writing style is cinematic, the pace is good, and the characters are captivating. I especially like the female heroines, who are feisty warriors. There is plenty of contrast in the depiction of characters and they feel real because of their human flaws. The epic sea-battles are especially convincing, since the author draws on a world he knows well. The best thing about this book is the detailed world-building. There is a sense of mystery and a world beyond the book, a magical or spiritual dimension which is explored by the emotants and their animal familiars. Co-existing with this idea of magic and prophecy, is the reality of political machinations and a brutish world where duplicity reigns. The book is thought-provoking." - Suzy Davies, ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

Karen Carpenter was the instantly recognisable lead singer of the Carpenters. The top-selling American musical act of the 1970s, they delivered the love songs that defined a generation. Karen's velvety voice on a string of 16 consecutive Top 20 hits from 1970 to 1976 – including Close to You, We've Only Just Begun, Rainy Days and Mondays, Superstar, and Hurting Each Other – propelled the duo to worldwide stardom and record sales of over 100 million. Karen's musical career was short – only 13 years. During that time, the Carpenters released 10 studio albums, toured more than 200 days a year, taped five television specials, and won three Grammys and an American Music Award. But that's only part of Karen's story. As the world received news of her death at 32 years of age in 1983, she became the proverbial poster child for anorexia nervosa. Little Girl Blue is an intimate profile of Karen Carpenter, a girl from a modest Connecticut upbringing who became a Superstar. Based on exclusive interviews with nearly 100 friends and associates, including record producers, studio musicians, songwriters, television directors, photographers, radio personalities, classmates, childhood friends, neighbours, personal assistants, romantic interests, hairdressers, and housekeepers.'...thorough and affectionate biography of a singer who's been constantly undervalued by the music industry.' MOJO 'Schmidt cannot be faulted... carefully factual, sensitively pitched book.' The Word 'The first truly convincing account of her nightmarish story.' The Guardian

Learn the up-close and personal story of Call the Midwife as told by the cast and crew. A Labour of Love is a moving journey through beloved series and features personal reflections, stills of fan-favorite moments, and anecdotes and insights from co-stars, producers, technical crew, and guests. Each chapter, spanning each of the ten years of Call the Midwife—set from 1957–1966 and filmed from 2011–2021—takes a deep dive into the themes, locations, fun times and technical challenges from each season. Author Stephen McGann, who plays the indefatigable Dr. Turner, intersperses personal interviews with key cast and crew about their feelings, thoughts, and memories of filming key moments of the drama. MUST-HAVE FOR ALL FANS: From Trixie’s mod outfits to The Buckle’s courtship to Sister Monica Julienne’s wise words, fans of Call the Midwife will revel in favorite moments, images, stories and quotes. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: Includes original interviews and reflections from the cast and crew. LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED: With stunning photos from both behind and in front of the camera, Labor of Love reveals rare behind-the-scenes moments and captures favorite scenes. SIGNS OF THE TIMES: Like the series it commemorates, Labor of Love explores the changing attitudes of the late 50s to the mid-60s and the impact on women’s health, family life, and British culture and the realities working-class women’s life in mid-century England. FROM THE DESK OF DR. TURNER: Author and actor Stephen McCann has played beloved Dr. Patrick Turner on all nine seasons of Call the Midwife and offers an insiders’ perspective and unprecedented access to the cast and creators.