As a young boy, running through the mountain valleys of Italy, Mark Gentile dreams of success-the kind of success that happens in a boardroom, far away from the country life. So after graduating from law school, Mark quickly climbs the corporate and legal ladder, eventually becoming CEO of a leading auto manufacturer. But after butting heads with company leaders, Mark fears he has compromised his ethics. With his wife's blessing, Mark returns to Acerenza, his birthplace in southern Italy. While enjoying the leisurely pace of the new life he's found in his old home, however, Mark must make a decision: Should he abandon his roots for a second time and satisfy his innate hunger for the struggles and rewards of corporate life? Or should he embrace his native land and create a more balanced life for himself and his family?

When Mark and his mother lose touch with his father's Gobi Desert expedition, they travel to Venice, Italy, and there, while waiting for news of his father, Mark learns about Marco Polo and his adventures in the Far East.

Marco Island projects prominently from Florida's mainland at the peninsula's southwestern fringe, where the waters of the Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico commingle. Its tropical climate, verdant landscape, unique topography, and abundant wildlife sustained prehistoric Native American cultures for centuries. The first pioneer settlers arrived in 1870, carving out a niche on the harsh Florida frontier. Bustling villages soon sprang up on the island, bolstered by strong leaders and economies centered around farming and fishing. The crash of Florida's land boom, along with the Great Depression, devastating hurricanes, and a series of failed developments, ultimately stunted the island's growth. Most of Marco Island was sold to the Deltona Corporation in 1964, which transformed the island into a place its early residents might find unrecognizable. Despite Marco Island's common distinction as the largest of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, there are only 12 square miles of land upon which to wander--making the enormity of its history all the more remarkable.

New York Times bestselling author Introduction by Jay-Z and Beyonce

Marco Lomax is a man of many mistakes, but strives to be a better man each and everyday he wakes up. He's a Behind the Wall Mentor, and is devoted to helping out younger individuals headed down the road he has traveled. Mr. Lomax has always appeared as a leader and considered a responsible, loyal, trust worthy young man. He puts forth a hard working effort in what ever he intends to do, and is very family oriented. He enjoys playing basketball; traveling, reading and helping out those that are less fortunate and are in any type of need that he may be able to assist them in. Mr. Lomax is a God fearing man and knows that as long as he has faith in God and continue to change for the better and set the example for those who look up to him, he has accomplished a well lived legacy.

Longtime friend of Dan McClain and Marylou Caponi, elderly boxing trainer Cherry Red lay in a coma in a trauma unit at St. Margret's Memorial Hospital due to an overdose of a depressant drug. It happens to be the same drug found in the bloodstream of his fighter and now ex-champion Marco Bentley at the postfight urine tests. The State Boxing Commission now is investigating who, why, and how the drug was administered. The champion had faded badly in the late rounds, totally uncharacteristic for the dynamic young champion.. A fighter drugged? Sure. It's happened. The trainer, that's a totally whole other ball game. Who and why? What did he know about it? The winds of suspicion blow hot and heavy toward Dan and Marylou because the new middleweight champion of the world just happens to be their own fighter, Jake Conley, now waiting in limbo for the commission's decision. The loss of his title seems to be the least of Marco's problems. Betting heavily on himself has put him in a deep hole with the wrong people. Did the fact that Marco suddenly without explanation dropped Cherry Red as his lifelong manager just days before the fight bear on the situation? Dan and Marylou want answers of their own. Dan McClain doesn't care what he has to do to get the answers.

Zach Nikolas isn't a typical high school boy--no acne, no awkwardness for this high school god among boys. Gorgeous, charming, and athletic, every girl in school throws herself at him. Zach's parents, friends, and teachers worship the ground he walks on. He has never known want or sacrifice in his charmed life. He is on top of the world. Things in Zach's perfect life begin to go horribly wrong. A murder attempt and a miraculous escape from certain death leads Zach to unheard-of powers, as an angry god seeks vengeance. The one girl Zach can't have--the beautiful, intelligent Allie Connor, who hates his guts--is the key to everything. When myths become reality, Zach must decide to sacrifice the girl he loves or let the world come to a fiery end.

The New York Times bestselling author of Cane and Abe and Black Horizon blends Goodfellas and Elmore Leonard in this wild, suspenseful caper inspired by actual events, in which a band of amateur thieves pulls off one of the biggest airport heists in history with deadly consequences. Every week, a hundred million dollars in cash arrives at Miami International Airport, shipped by German banks to the Federal Reserve. A select group of trusted workers moves the bags through Customs and loads them into armored trucks. Ruban Betancourt has always played by the rules. But the bank taking his house and his restaurant business going bust has driven him over the edge. He and his wife deserve more than life has handed them, and he’s come up with a ballsy scheme to get it. With the help of an airport insider, he, his coke-head brother-in-law, Jeffrey, and two ex-cons surprise the guards loading the armored trucks and speed off with $7.4 million in the bed of a pickup truck. Investigating the heist, FBI agent Andie Henning, newly transferred to Miami from Seattle, knows the best way to catch the thieves is to follow the money. Jeffrey’s drug addiction is as conspicuous as the Rolex watches he buys for dancers at the Gold Rush strip club. One of the ex-cons, Pinky Perez, makes no secret of his plan to own a swinger’s club—which will allow him carte blanche with his patrons’ wives. Levelheaded Ruban is desperately trying to lay low and hold things together. But Agent Henning isn’t the only one on their trail, and in the mob-meets-Miami fashion, these accidental thieves suddenly find themselves way in over their heads . . . and sinking fast.

It’s not the size of the house . . . At twenty-two, Vivien is already a homeowner—albeit of the tiniest of tiny houses, a whopping 64 square footer called “Shrimpfork.” It’s the perfectly portable home from which to run Organization Oracle, Vivien’s new business as a personal organizer. In fact, she’ll be toting Shrimpfork to her upcoming client’s home near Taos, New Mexico. Seventy-year-old Priscilla has a colorful past, a rambunctious boxer named Clay—and a home crammed with treasures. . . . Priscilla also has a love for the TV program “This Old Thing?” Her twenty-five-year-old neighbor, Marco, is happy to watch it with her—while watching over her. When Vivien arrives, it’s clear she and Marco are suspicious of each other’s intentions. But Priscilla’s determination to get her most cherished possession appraised on “This Old Thing?” soon has all of them grudgingly working together. Vivien and Marco find themselves in cahoots, Priscilla discovers the wider world, Clay digs up trouble—and everyone learns that sometimes the greatest treasures are valued for their flaws . . . Praise for Celia Bonaduce and her novels “A bingeworthy triology about smart, quirky women who feel like friends. In Much Ado About Mother she shows us just how strong (and funny) the mother-daughter bond can be. Loved it!” —Clare O'Donahue, author of The Kate Conway Mysteries “Celia Bonaduce writes well rounded, real life characters straight from the heart. I loved this book!” —Phyliss Miranda, New York Times bestselling author on A Comedy of Erinn “The Merchant of Venice Beach has a fresh, heartwarming voice that will keep readers smiling as they dance through this charming story by Celia Bonaduce.” —Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author