From the New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls comes the never-before-told story of a small cadre of influential female spies in the precarious early days of the CIA—women who helped create the template for cutting-edge espionage (and blazed new paths for equality in the workplace) in the treacherous post-WWII era.

In the wake of World War II, four agents were critical in helping build a new organization that we now know as the CIA. Adelaide Hawkins, Mary Hutchison, Eloise Page, and Elizabeth Sudmeier, called the “wise gals” by their male colleagues because of their sharp sense of humor and even quicker intelligence, were not the stereotypical femme fatale of spy novels. They were smart, courageous, and groundbreaking agents at the top of their class, instrumental in both developing innovative tools for intelligence gathering—and insisting (in their own unique ways) that they receive the credit and pay their expertise deserved.
     Throughout the Cold War era, each woman had a vital role to play on the international stage. Adelaide rose through the ranks, developing new cryptosystems that advanced how spies communicate with each other.  Mary worked overseas in Europe and Asia, building partnerships and allegiances that would last decades. Elizabeth would risk her life in the Middle East in order to gain intelligence on deadly Soviet weaponry. Eloise would wield influence on scientific and technical operations worldwide, ultimately exposing global terrorism threats. Through their friendship and shared sense of purpose, they rose to positions of power and were able to make real change in a traditionally “male, pale, and Yale” organization—but not without some tragic losses and real heartache along the way.   
     Meticulously researched and beautifully told, Holt uses firsthand interviews with past and present officials and declassified government documents to uncover the stories of these four inspirational women. Wise Gals sheds a light on the untold history of the women whose daring foreign intrigues, domestic persistence, and fighting spirit have been and continue to be instrumental to our country’s security.

A true romance memoir. "This is like drinking tea and honey on a cold day." When tragedy struck, I thought for sure that my own life was at an end. I was wrong. This is the true story of how two stray rescue cats and a woman named Kitty, whom I finally met after a wild ride of internet dating, brought love, romance, and laughter back into my life.

Love was then.
Love is now.
Love is forever.

WINNER of the 2018 Stephen Memorial Award
FINALIST for the 2014 RONE AWARD

If you love reading feel-good memoirs, then don't miss THE THREE KITTIES THAT SAVED MY LIFE, where "Mike Meyer pens a tender tale of love, loss, and renewal. The depth of emotion is palpable...The Three Kitties will tug at readers' heartstrings, as they ride through the emotional highs and lows of Mike Meyer's remarkable story." - InD'tale Magazine

​Whispers Across a Sea is a sweeping novel that follows three generations of the Anglo-Irish Young family in Victorian Ireland, where Irish desire for independence from Britain is building. How will the family evolve in the ever-changing social and political landscape of the country they call home?

In 1920, Ireland stands on the brink of civil war. Lucie returns to her familial home to settle the estate, where she uncovers an abundance of handwritten letters—a lifetime’s worth of cherished memories and guarded secrets between her mother and aunts—as well as her grandfather’s diary. As she reads through her findings, Lucie begins to wonder just how well she knew her relatives and the circumstances of their lives. Norah, a close childhood friend and the daughter of a former family servant, helps her work through the notes, and their conversations remind Lucie that she and Norah live in very different worlds. Norah is Irish; Lucie is Anglo-Irish. As the two women look into the past, it becomes evident that Norah has always known more about Lucie’s life than Lucie has ever understood of Norah’s. And Lucie realizes that she has been unaware of the disquiet in Ireland’s streets—but then again, the elder members of her family, so completely involved in their own lives, didn’t appear to notice either. . . .

Whispers Across a Sea is a compelling novel that traces three generations of Lucie’s Anglo-Irish family as they navigate the nuances of life in their adopted country of Ireland. Within the home, the family’s Irish servants make sure the lives of the Youngs remain comfortable while silently observing their employers’ detachment from the realities of life in Ireland—a country where a lengthy, violent, and divisive struggle is beginning. How long will the Youngs be able to close their eyes to the shifting world outside their door?

“This is a book I immediately wanted to give to a friend—and keep a copy for my bookshelf. Wise, clear, well-researched, and helpful.” —Katy Butler, bestselling author of Knocking on Heaven’s Door and The Art of Dying Well

When Dr. Beverly E. Thorn became a caregiver for her husband, Walt, she joined a massive army. Worldwide, unpaid dementia caregiving requires the equivalent of forty million full-time workers, and that number will only grow. But navigating dementia caregiving can feel like trying to climb a mountain in the dark—and few resources exist to support caregivers in finding their way.

In Before I Lose My Own Mind, Thorn—a psychologist, neuroscientist, and end-of-life doula—provides an honest vision of caregiving that is tender, openhearted, and genuinely useful. Filled with resources and insights on financial planning, advance care directives, clinical trials, support groups, death with dignity, grief, recovery, and more, this book is a roadmap for all caregivers, whether they’re family or friends, spouses or children, professionals or novices.

For those coping with the grief, exhaustion, and loneliness of a challenge they never expected, help is out there. Surviving dementia caregiving is a team effort. Consider this book a part of your support crew.

Le Mort de Moi is a hauntingly raw and poetic exploration of trauma, identity, and the desperate fight for self-reclamation. Lisbeth Lavigne weaves a visceral narrative of survival, confronting the ghosts of the past that linger in the present.

Through fragmented memories and aching prose, this book unearths the silent screams of childhood wounds, the suffocating weight of abuse, and the relentless search for meaning in a world that often turns a blind eye.

Can you truly leave behind the past when it has carved itself into your bones? Or does it haunt you, reshaping every breath, every decision, every hope for something more?

This is not just a memoir—it’s a reckoning. A story for those who have been broken and are still searching for a way to piece themselves back together.

Growing up as an adoptee and identical twin, Julie McGue will take you on her journey for identity and individuality, searching for answers through tragedy and adversity.

“A heartfelt exploration of connection, community, and the unbreakable bond between sisters . . . Her journey beautifully reminds us of the strength we find within ourselves as we seek to uncover where we truly belong.”— Simone Knego, author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You

In this coming-of-age memoir, set in Chicago’s western suburbs between the 1960s and ’80s, adopted twins Julie and Jenny provide their parents with an instant family. Their sisterly bond holds tight as the two strive for identity, individuality, and belonging. But as Julie’s parents continue adding children to the family, some painful and tragic experiences test family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds.

Faced with these hurdles, Julie questions everything—who she is, how she fits in, her adoption circumstances, her faith, and her idea of family. But the life her parents have constructed is not one she wants for herself—and as she matures, she recognizes how the experiences that formed her have provided her a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.

Having spent ten summers on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation near Glacier National Park, part of her doctoral fieldwork for a PhD in Native American Art History, forty-two-year-old Lynne Spriggs thinks of Montana as her healing place. When she moves to “Big Sky Country” from the East Coast in a quest to reset her life, she has high hopes for what awaits her.

Great Falls, a farming and military town in central Montana, is not what Lynne imagined when she decided to leave city life behind. But her dream of being more connected to nature in the American West comes alive when she meets Harrison, a handsome rancher thirteen years her senior. Wary but curious, with her dog Willow by her side, she leans into the seasonal rhythms of Harrison’s hidden valley and opens her heart to a wild language that moves beyond words. In a modern world where listening is rare, Elk Love explores an intimate place where loneliness gives way to wonder, where the natural world speaks of what matters most.

Sometimes nothing is more unexpected than joy.

What happens when a marketing executive leaves San Francisco to care for her dying mother on their family farm in Ohio? A Hallmark heroine would fall in love with her high school sweetheart during a snowstorm—but this is no Hallmark movie. Sarah Gormley spent most of her life trying to outrun the persistent self-loathing that plagued her from childhood, convinced that self-worth was something she had to earn by doing rather than being.

When she returned to Salt Creek Farm at age forty-five, Gormley had no idea that detaching from the success she believed defined her, untangling the complicated relationship with her mother, and continuing the hard work of therapy would lead to a wildly transformed life. Told with exceptional candor and humor, The Order of Things is a story about how one woman learned to let go of the patterns of her past to create a future she never imagined.

Ultimately, Gormley’s book is about hope, with a powerful message that will inspire you to think about the possibility of change in your own life.

“A beautifully written testament to doing the hard work of changing your circumstances and opening your heart to a more meaningful life filled with hope and love. . . . Gormley’s a towering talent and a writer to watch!” —Christie Tate, New York Times bestselling author of Group and B.F.F.

Is grief on a dial or a switch? Both.

Over six short weeks in 2022, Betsy Thibaut Stephenson lost her son to suicide, mother-in-law to dementia, and family dog to cancer. Rather than succumb to grief’s darkness, Betsy chose to face her losses head-on, accepting grief as an uninvited yet permanent companion in her revised life.

Blackbird is a memoir composed in real time, a concise and brutally honest look at the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of deep despair. By unflinchingly pulling back the curtain on fear and shame, Betsy’s story inspires important conversations about mental health, grief resilience, and creating a path toward healing.

"Everything points back to the uniformed girl at the podium in the lobby of the Rittenhouse."

At twenty-two Jamie Cooperstein dreamed of becoming a successful sports journalist. She never expected that putting on a concierge uniform and stepping into the lobby of the Five Diamond-rated Rittenhouse Hotel would lead to anything more than a paycheck.

Written with wit and humor, True Hospitality is a story of finding an unexpected calling behind the concierge desk. Through personal anecdotes of outlandish guest requests, lavish weddings and parties, celebrity stays, and smoke-filled lobbies, Cooperstein takes an honest look at the true meaning of hospitality and how it came to define her.

True Hospitality is a fascinating memoir of one woman's journey to find her way in the world of luxury hospitality.

What does it mean to be a hero—in sports and in life?

Heroes aren’t just the ones who bring home medals. Hero Redefined delves into the lesser-known stories of Olympic athletes—and a couple of special Olympic venues—that challenge the conventional narrative of glory and gold. In riveting personal profiles exploring herculean feats of strength, perseverance, and sportsmanship, award-winning sports journalist Doug Levy offers a new vision of heroism. There is more than one path to greatness, and the extraordinary acts of resilience and personal sacrifice by these athletes have left an indelible mark on the spirit of the Olympic games in quiet but fundamental ways through the ages.

Each chapter reveals a different face of heroism—immense resilience, strength of character, unparalleled sportsmanship, an incredible zeal to compete, and a seemingly superhuman will to finish. Throughout, Levy celebrates the heroic human spirit and its relentless drive to carry the torch forward—both inside and outside of the Olympic Games.

Simone sent me an email. The subject line: “Just read.”

Most of us spend our whole lives searching for the one. Some of us are lucky enough to find them, even for a moment. And some—like Simone and Tom—were lucky enough to find love, purchase a second home abroad, create a successful business, and build a life together for nearly four decades. But what happens after the love story?

Told through a series of notes and emails, Tom shares his raw, humorous, and heartfelt declarations on what it’s like living, loving, and losing theone, Sim One, to a disease that no one talks about: cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Sim One is a love letter meets memoir that asks what does it mean to love—and keep loving—when faced with the possibility of losing it all?

ON THE DAY SHE WAS BORN, FATE HAD ALREADY DETERMINED HER DESTINY. A DESTINY FRAUGHT WITH ABANDONMENT, WANT, SERVITUDE, AND REWARD.

SOLD INTO CHILDHOOD SLAVERY BY HER OWN FATHER - SHE REACHED DEEP INSIDE HER HEART AND FOUND A WELL OF STRENGTH, GRIT, FAITH, AND RAW PERSEVERANCE.

OPAL was a proud woman. Not in a haughty way - more like the way someone sets their jaw to stare down a vicious pack of "Pit Bulls." She'd graduated from the "School of Hard Knocks," and acting self-assured was simply her way of forcing life's challenges to give up some of their ground.

Her eyes were set deeply into the granite-like constitution of her gaze. Not a cold-hearted stare, but translucent; like the serene look of a farm pond at dusk. And, although her shoulders were slightly bent from plain old fashioned hard work, it wasn't an arthritic stoop - more like the resolute position she'd assumed throughout her lifetime to guarantee her own survival.

But you see, this was still "The Great Depression," and the screen door her family was shivering and sweltering behind was that same old door attached to the same old "Sharecropper Shanty" they'd started out in. But for Opal, the decision to head to California during those difficult days or stay and 'tough things out' was what we call nowadays: ‘a no-brainer.’ Some refer to it as ‘frontier spirit,’ or ‘the will to go on.’ Whatever you choose to label it; in her case - those principles were simply the foundation on which she chose to live out her life. Then, after having whisked away all those "Dust Bowl" gales - She began to pay all that survivor's grit forward. Time after time through the years; into decades - she answered the call to serve others. Never mind their beliefs or their station in life, so long as the end result was to benefit those who were suffering the most.

“OPAL” is the story of Mary Opal Fetters/George; a courageous woman who lost her mother to childbirth at the tender age of seven, was sold into servitude by a father who no longer wanted her, and forced into child labor in another state for many years. In spite of all the odds stacked against her - she championed a legacy of grace.

A serial killer is hiding in plain sight. No one is safe in this seaside town. Not even FBI Special Agent Tanya Stone and her K9, Max.

Paradise Cove is the perfect vacation getaway. So, FBI Agent Tanya Stone thinks...

Until a Porsche slams into the café where she and her detective friends are enjoying a morning coffee. To their horror, the driver shoots a man dead.

Then, she turns the gun on herself next.

The sheriff is quick to call it a case of extreme road rage, but Tanya realizes not all is well in this idyllic community.

The sinister secret behind this brutal crime lies buried deep in the nearby woods. But no one wants to see the truth.

With the help of her friends and her K9 partner, Max, Tanya becomes obsessed with unraveling the deadly mystery. But the more lies she exposes, the more dangerous it is to stay in town.

A killer is hiding in plain sight, watching her....

A Riveting Memoir That Reads Like A Psychological Thriller

Tara’s life is unraveling. Divorcing her violent husband while caring for her dying mother, she’s forced to confront the horrors of her past—horrors her therapist suggests go far beyond what she remembers.

As Tara delves into repressed memories, she discovers that abuse by her grandfather was only the beginning. With the support of a caring therapist and survivor community, Tara unearths a long history of dark secrets, hidden family truths, and unimaginable betrayals.

While cleaning out her mother’s home, Tara finds disturbing clues—letters, photos, and other hidden evidence—that reveal the depths of her family’s secrets. Meanwhile, unsettling patterns emerge around the deaths of her childhood caregivers, leading her to suspect the influence of powerful people.

Through therapy, art, and spiritual retreats, Tara embarks on a transformative journey, connecting with the power within herself. She faces relentless harassment from her ex and the haunting mysteries of her past, but she’s determined to reclaim her life.

Tales of Tara is a spiritual self-help memoir of survival, courage, and the fierce will to uncover truth. In this gripping account, Tara shows us that healing is possible—even in the face of unimaginable darkness.

From survivor to psychotherapist—one woman’s path to triumphing over trauma by understanding how the brain’s brilliant protective mechanisms helped keep her alive. 

In this powerful and deeply personal work of nonfiction, survivor and psychotherapist Sara Davidson explores one of life’s devastating but all too pervasive realities—trauma, and its rippling aftereffects.

By her mid-thirties, Sara Davidson had fled a tsunami, fought off a knife-wielding thief and survived a horrific sexual assault by two masked gunmen who burst through her bedroom door in the middle of the night. As she was struggling to confront her own trauma, she was also helping her clients navigate theirs. At one point, she thought she had recovered. However, it was only after delving into the neuroscientific literature on trauma and discovering how her brain had protected her in her darkest hour that she found her way to true healing.

Thoughtful and brutally honest, Davidson’s memoir draws on her personal experience, professional training and the insights she gained through her investigations to paint a moving portrait of one woman’s winding path to self-acceptance, healing and reclaiming a joyful life.

Author: Billy Osceola Young-Wolf Blair

Title: Honor, Courage, Commitment, and NavAdmin 190/21

What do honor, courage, and commitment mean to you and how do you think they shaped the person you are today?

Honor, Courage, and Commitment is a gripping memoir that tells the story of one man's journey of personal courage and conviction. As the only active duty member at his military station to refuse the mandatory vaccine mandate, he faced intense pressure from his superiors and peers. But he stood firm in his beliefs, even when it meant risking his career and reputation.

Through vivid and honest storytelling, the author takes us on a journey of self-discovery and self-realization. He describes the internal struggle he faced as he weighed his own beliefs against the expectations of his colleagues and the military hierarchy. He also shares the emotional toll that the experience took on his personal life, as he faced criticism and ostracism from those around him.

But “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” is more than just a personal story. It's also a powerful and timely exploration of the complex issues surrounding vaccine mandates and individual rights. The author delves into the scientific, ethical, and legal arguments for and against vaccine mandates, and offers a nuanced perspective on this contentious issue.

Ultimately, “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” is a call to action for anyone who cares about individual liberty and public health. It's a reminder that we all have a responsibility to stand up for our beliefs, even in the face of opposition. And it's a testament to the power of personal conviction and the human spirit.

Get a copy now!

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and she would do it alone. Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

Oprah's Book Club 2.0 selection: This special eBook edition of Cheryl Strayed’s national best seller, Wild, features exclusive content, including Oprah’s personal notes highlighted within the text, and a reading group guide. 

One of the Best Books of the Year: NPR, The Boston Globe, Entertainment Weekly, Vogue, St. Louis Dispatch