From the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Homer’s Odyssey comes a tender, joyful, utterly unforgettable novel, primarily told through the eyes of the most observant member of any human family: the cat. Humans best understand the truth of things if they come at it indirectly. Like how sometimes the best way to catch a mouse that’s right in front of you is to back up before you pounce. So notes Prudence, the irresistible brown tabby at the center of Gwen Cooper’s tender, joyful, utterly unforgettable novel, which is mostly told through the eyes of this curious (and occasionally cranky) feline. When five-week-old Prudence meets a woman named Sarah in a deserted construction site on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, she knows she’s found the human she was meant to adopt. For three years their lives are filled with laughter, tuna, catnaps, music, and the unchanging routines Prudence craves. Then one day Sarah doesn’t come home. From Prudence’s perch on the windowsill she sees Laura, the daughter who hardly ever comes to visit Sarah, arrive with her new husband. They’re carrying boxes. Before they even get to the front door, Prudence realizes that her life has changed forever. Suddenly Prudence finds herself living in a strange apartment with humans she barely knows. It could take years to train them in the feline courtesies and customs (for example, a cat should always be fed before the humans, and at the same exact time every day) that Sarah understood so well. Prudence clings to the hope that Sarah will come back for her while Laura, a rising young corporate attorney, tries to push away memories of her mother and the tumultuous childhood spent in her mother’s dusty downtown record store. But the secret joys, past hurts, and life-changing moments that make every mother-daughter relationship special will come to the surface. With Prudence’s help Laura will learn that the past, like a mother’s love, never dies. Poignant, insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny, Love Saves the Day is a story of hope, healing, and how the love of an animal can make all of us better humans. It’s the story of a mother and daughter divided by the turmoil of bohemian New York, and the opinionated, irrepressible feline who will become the bridge between them. It’s a novel for anyone who’s ever lost a loved one, wondered what their cat was really thinking, or fallen asleep with a purring feline nestled in their arms. Prudence, a cat like no other, is sure to steal your heart. Praise for Love Saves the Day “Prudence [is a] sassy but sensitive feline heroine.”—Time “Unforgettably moving . . . a hard one to put down.”—Modern Cat “If you are the Most Important Person to a cat, you will hold them much tighter by the book’s end. If you don’t have a cat, Prudence will have surreptitiously lured you into the danger zone: Falling in love with a cat because they need family, too.”—The Vancouver Sun “Cooper brings readers a fictional tale that cat lovers will treasure. . . . This book will make most readers laugh and cry, and probably lead them to wonder more often what, exactly, their pet is thinking.”—Fredericksburg Free Lance–Star “The interspersed viewpoints . . . enrich Cooper’s sensitively told novel that unravels a story (based on actual events) about a century-old tenement building—and the inhabitants therein. That story ultimately serves as the basis to understanding the emotional subtexts of these authentic, well-drawn characters.”—Shelf Awareness
ONCE IN NINE LIVES, SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY HAPPENS. The last thing Gwen Cooper wanted was another cat. She already had two, not to mention a phenomenally underpaying job and a recently broken heart. Then Gwen’s veterinarian called with a story about a three-week-old eyeless kitten who’d been abandoned. It was love at first sight. Everyone warned that Homer would always be an “underachiever.” But the kitten nobody believed in quickly grew into a three-pound dynamo with a giant heart who eagerly made friends with every human who crossed his path. Homer scaled seven-foot bookcases with ease, survived being trapped alone for days after 9/11 in an apartment near the World Trade Center, and even saved Gwen’s life when he chased off an intruder who broke into their home in the middle of the night. But it was Homer’s unswerving loyalty, his infinite capacity for love, and his joy in the face of all obstacles that transformed Gwen’s life. And by the time she met the man she would marry, she realized that Homer had taught her the most valuable lesson of all: Love isn’t something you see with your eyes. BONUS: This edition contains a new afterword and an excerpt from Gwen Cooper's Love Saves the Day.
South Beach in the late 1990s is a town of blink-and-you'll-miss-'em nightclubs populated by celebrities, models, mobsters, heiresses, drug dealers, drag queens, and fun seekers of all stripes. It's a place where the famous come to party like locals, the locals party like rock stars behind velvet ropes, and the press is savvy enough to know what not to report. Rachel Baum is a sheltered, career-oriented everygirl when she moves to South Beach from her quiet Miami suburb, searching for a life less ordinary. Quickly making friends among SoBe's most exclusive scenesters, she spends her days building a career and her nights building a reputation. But in a town where friends become enemies faster than highs become hangovers, the life less ordinary turns into more than Rachel bargained for. As she pursues the endless party in penthouses, dive bars, after-hours clubs, and cocaine speakeasies, Rachel struggles to balance her goals and ambitions with the decadence and excess -- especially her drug-fueled, on-again off-again relationship with Yale-graduate-turned-addict John Hood -- that threaten to destroy everything she's always worked for. With tremendous wit and razor-sharp insight, Diary of a South Beach Party Girl portrays the innermost sanctums of South Beach's privileged Beautiful People through the eyes of a no longer innocent heroine.
As an acclaimed writer of both fiction and nonfiction, Gwen Cooper touches readers with heartwarming and often surprising insights into the bond between humans and their animal companions. Featuring Cooper’s inspiring memoir, Homer’s Odyssey, and her cat-narrated novel, Love Saves the Day, this eBook bundle is perfect for readers who’ve ever known unswerving feline devotion, fallen asleep with a purring kitten nestled in their arms, or wondered what their cat was really thinking. HOMER’S ODYSSEY A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat “Touching . . . one not to miss.”—USA Today The last thing Gwen Cooper wanted was another cat. She already had two, not to mention an underpaying job and a recently broken heart. Then Gwen’s vet called with a story about a three-week-old eyeless kitten who’d been abandoned. It was love at first sight. Everyone warned that Homer would be an “underachiever,” but the kitten nobody believed in quickly grew into a three-pound dynamo who scaled seven-foot bookcases, survived alone for days after 9/11 in an apartment near the World Trade Center, and even saved Gwen’s life when he chased off a home intruder. By the time Gwen met the man she would marry, Homer had taught her the most valuable lesson of all: Love isn’t something you see with your eyes. LOVE SAVES THE DAY A Novel “Prudence [is a] sassy but sensitive feline heroine.”—Time When five-week-old Prudence meets a woman named Sarah in a deserted construction site on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, she knows she’s found the human she was meant to adopt. For three years their lives are filled with laughter, tuna, catnaps, music, and the unchanging routines Prudence craves. Then one day Sarah doesn’t come home. When Sarah’s estranged daughter and her husband arrive with boxes, Prudence knows that her life has changed forever. Poignant, insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny, Love Saves the Day is the story of a mother, a daughter, and the irrepressible feline who becomes the bridge between them. Prudence, a cat like no other, is sure to steal your heart. Praise for Gwen Cooper Homer’s Odyssey “Moving, insightful, and often hilarious, Homer’s Odyssey is about a blind cat with a spirit of epic proportions. Read and rejoice!”—Sy Montgomery, author of The Good Good Pig “Cooper is a genial writer with both a sense of humor and a gift for conveying the inner essence of an animal. . . . The indefatigable feline should be an inspiration to us all.”—The Christian Science Monitor “A wonderful book for animal lovers.”—Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation Love Saves the Day “[A] poignant tale . . . [Gwen Cooper] once again demonstrates her compassionate fluency in felinespeak and proves equally adept at conveying complex human emotions with flair and sensitivity.”—Booklist “A reason to stand up and cheer . . . Once again Gwen Cooper shines her light on the territory that defines the human/animal bond.”—Jackson Galaxy, star of My Cat from Hell and author of Cat Daddy “A charming story of love lost and found . . . Love Saves the Day eloquently explains why so many of us would do anything at all for our pets.”—Barbara Delinsky, New York Times bestselling author of Escape
Celebrate the human-feline bond with all its joys, mysteries, and life-changing moments. Gwen Cooper—author of the blockbuster bestseller Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life With a Blind Wonder Cat—returns with the ongoing adventures of her much-beloved, world-famous fur family. Ideal for new readers and longtime fans alike, this memoir told in eight purr-fect cat stories is filled with all the humor and heart Gwen's devoted readership has come to know and love. Raised in a dog-loving family, Gwen never pictured herself as a "cat person." But from the very first feline she adopted—an adorable five-week-old rescue kitten, slow to learn how to trust after life on the streets—Gwen was smitten. Eventually one rescue kitten became five, and all the ups and downs of a life with cats are lovingly depicted here: From the obsessive cat who teaches himself to play fetch and demands it morning, noon, and night from his hapless human mom; to the crafty white beauty who raises outside-the-litter-box thinking to the level of an art form; to the routine vet trip that turns into a hijinks-filled misadventure on the streets of Manhattan with three (VERY cranky!) felines in tow. And Homer, the Blind Wonder Cat himself, returns triumphant in new tales of life and love after worldwide fame. Sure to be treasured by cat lovers everywhere, My Life in a Cat House will leave you laughing out loud, shedding an occasional tear, and hugging your own cat a little bit closer. Read and rejoice!
Homer, the world-renowned Blind Wonder Cat, returns this holiday season with an ins-purr-ational tale filled with holiday cheer! Fifteen years earlier, doctors had warned that Homer—a tiny, sightless kitten—was unlikely to survive and probably wouldn't have much of a life even if he did. Miraculously and against all the odds, however, Homer grew into a feline dynamo who scaled seven-foot bookcases with ease, saved his human mom's life when he chased a late-night burglar from their apartment, and rose to global fame—paving the way for other special-needs animals once considered "unadoptable." Now, only two weeks before Christmas, with doctors once again decreeing that Homer didn't have much time—that he wouldn't even make it to Christmas Eve—Homer showed everyone that he still had one more miracle left in him. The heroic blind cat proved again, once and for all, that hope and love aren't things you see with your eyes. You see them with your heart. Humorous and heartwarming, Homer and the Holiday Miracle will leave you filled with the true spirit of the season. It's the ideal stocking-stuffer for the cat lover on your list—and the perfect holiday treat for yourself. Read and rejoice!
The odds had always been stacked against Homer, the little blind kitten nobody wanted. But destiny took a hand the day he met Gwen Cooper, and with the publication twelve years later of the international best seller "Homer's Odyssey," Homer went from beloved housecat to world-wide star. He became the scourge and darling of the reporters, photographers, videographers, bloggers, and radio hosts who clamored to meet him-dragging his hapless human behind him as he greeted fame with his usual joie de vivre and occasional "catitude." He became a spokes-cat for the cause of special-needs animals everywhere, and eventually the wise older mentor to the new special-needs kitten who would enter his and Gwen's lives. Most importantly, Homer taught those who loved him best how to live and die with strength, dignity, and joy-and left behind a rescue community of "Homer's Heroes" that continues to save countless lives in his name. By turns humorous and tender, this beautifully written, 115-page sequel concludes the adventures of Homer the Blind Wonder Cat-the fearless feline who proved that love isn't something you see with your eyes, that even the smallest of creatures can make a big difference, and that true love lives forever.
A real-life tale of feline love at first sight . . . It's rare for two cats to even tolerate each other the first time they meet. But when Bruiser the backyard feral and Fanny the housecat lock eyes, they're instantly smitten. Seeking out glimpses of each other through the windowed door that separates them, they exchange "gifts" (toy mice from Fanny, real mice from Bruiser), try to touch paws through the glass, and hope to someday meet in purr-son. But it's more than glass that keeps them apart—can true love ever tame the wild-at-heart outdoor cat? The seventh entry in the continuing Curl Up with a Cat Tale series—true-life cat stories by Gwen Cooper, New York Times bestselling author of the smash hit Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale—"Spray Anything" is a love story for the ages that you won't want to miss!
A two-book collection featuring the ongoing adventures of Homer, the world-famous blind wonder cat, and his fur family! Homer: The Ninth Life of a Blind Wonder Cat By turns humorous and tender, this sequel to Homer's Odyssey continues the story of Homer the Blind Wonder Cat—the fearless feline who proved that love isn't something you see with your eyes, that even the smallest of creatures can make a big difference, and that true love lives forever. Spray Anything: More True Tales of Homer and the Gang Ideal for new readers and longtime fans alike, this collection of six purr-fect cat stories collected from the monthly Curl Up with a Cat Tale series is filled with all the humor and heart Gwen's devoted readership has come to know and love. Sure to be treasured by cat lovers everywhere, Spray Anything will leave you laughing out loud, shedding an occasional tear, and hugging your own cat a little bit closer.
When an invading swarm of six-legged intruders takes over a peaceful Jersey City brownstone, there's no one to turn to except two scrappy feline warriors in the battle against . . . THEM! Gwen Cooper and her husband, Laurence, had no idea how bad an onslaught of clothes moths could get until they had to start throwing away cherished sweaters by the sackful. Their secret weapon against the stubborn six-legged pests are Clayton "the tripod" and his litter-mate Fanny—two strictly indoor black cats eager, at long last, to test their predatory prowess. But as casualties mount, and the moths meet the cats' superior size and skill with their own overwhelming numbers, the question remains: Can two never-say-die furry soldiers ever win the war against THEM? The latest entry in the continuing Curl Up with a Cat Tale series—true-life cat stories by Gwen Cooper, New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale—"THEM!" is a hilarious, high-octane adventure tale you won't want to miss!
Can work, family life, and sanity itself survive a three-legged cat's one-track obsession? Clayton "the Tripod" is a special-needs rescue who quickly established himself as king of the house—a "loveable doofus" and natural clown with a heart big enough for ten cats. The day he teaches himself to play fetch, however, Clayton transforms from loving lap cat to ruthless slave driver, demanding round-the-clock games of toss/retrieve/repeat from his hapless human mom. He interrupts her work, her sleep, even her alone time with her husband. But how can any loving (if exhausted!) cat parent look into an adorable feline's big hopeful eyes and say no? From the Curl Up with a Cat Tale series of true-life short stories from Gwen Cooper—bestselling author of the smash hit Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale—"Stop Trying to Make Fetch Happen" is full of Gwen's trademark humor and heart. It's a tale sure to resonate with animal lovers everywhere.
Even the sweetest cat can turn salty when it comes to food . . . Fanny the cat is the classic "good daughter"—a petite and pretty rescue with a shy, affectionate disposition who's thoroughly doted on by her besotted humans. But the day she discovers dry food (otherwise known as "kitty crack") for the first time, Fanny goes from angelic to devilish literally overnight. As her hapless human mom tries to cope with the new regime of pre-dawn wake-up calls (feed me NOW!) and all-day caterwauling, the question remains: Can a skinny cat's newfound food addiction ever be tamed? The sixth installment in the monthly Curl Up with a Cat Tale series by Gwen Cooper—author of the smash-hit Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale—"Fanny Trouble" is a hilarious and ultimately touching tribute to the things we do to make our cats happy. If you're the human slave to your own fussy feline, you won't want to miss it!
Before there was Homer the Blind Wonder Cat, there was Scarlett—the adorable, maddeningly aloof, gray rescue tabby . . . Every cat lover remembers the very first feline they fell in love with. For celebrated cat writer Gwen Cooper, that first love is Scarlett—a pint-sized rescue kitten with a king-sized personality. A natural-born troublemaker and wary at first after life on the streets, Scarlett is quick to win hearts with her kittenish mischief, but slow to open her own heart to the woman who saved her. Yet as the months go by, and bonds of trust are painstakingly forged link by link, Gwen begins to realize that the love you have to earn just may be the love that means the most. Poignant, tender, and laugh-out-loud funny, "I Choo-Choo-Choose You!" is the first in the Curl Up with a Cat Tale series of true short stories from Gwen Cooper—bestselling author of the smash hit Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale—and sure to warm the heart of any cat enthusiast. Read and fall in love for the first time all over again!
Some cats have "accidents" on rugs or furniture. This wily cat raises outside-the-litter-box thinking to an art form! Vashti was a drop-dead gorgeous, snow-white rescue cat whose sweet temper and gentle nature made her irresistible to all. But behind this femme fatale's angelic façade lurked a crafty feline mind and a steely determination to retain sole possession of the person she loved most—by any means necessary. Vashti's challenging, creative spirit would leave its mark on her human's heart as the years went by—and also on the furniture, clothing, and cherished belongings of the friends and boyfriends she viewed as competition for her "mom's" affections. Along the way, Vashti would teach her human mom what true love looks like: rare, beautiful, and more than a little messy. A riotously funny and ultimately tender exploration of the ineffable bonds between human and feline, "The Picasso of Pee" is the latest entry from the Curl Up with a Cat Tale series—true-life short stories from Gwen Cooper, bestselling author of the smash hit Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale. It's the purr-fect read for anyone who knows what it means to love a cat unconditionally, and to be loved wholeheartedly in return.
There are a million cat stories in the naked city. This is one of them . . . There are days when everything seems to go wrong—days that can crack even the hardiest New Yorker: your cab breaks down, an address that Google Maps assures you exists is nowhere to be found, nobody you ask for directions has any idea what you're talking about, you lose your cell phone, it starts to rain and you can't find your umbrella . . . Throw in trying to get three fussy felines to their first appointment with a new vet on time, and that's the day Gwen Cooper is having. As she treks the streets of Manhattan with her three cranky (and surprisingly heavy!) cats in tow, the real question isn't if she'll make it to the vet's office on schedule—it's whether her sanity will still be intact by the time she gets there. A hilarious account of one long day's wacky adventures and misadventures, "Cat Carrier Tango" is the fourth installment in the Curl Up with a Cat Tale monthly story series from Gwen Cooper, author of the smash hit Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale. Meant to be read in a warm bubble bath, or with a glass of wine in hand, it's sure to keep you laughing from start to finish!
Forgiveness has often been viewed as a religious obligation but is increasingly being advocated as a means of healing, release and promoting wellbeing. Forgiveness is variously viewed as a duty, virtue or cure, but when it comes to practising forgiveness in real life we find it is always caught up in the complexity of the situation. This book shines a light on how we tend to think about forgiveness in practice, including examples from social work, family therapy, chaplaincy and criminal justice. The book contains many different perspectives on how we think about forgiveness, including overviews of four major religions and reflections from those working in the healing professions. Without advocating a particular approach this book raises important questions around self-forgiveness and forgiving institutions and encourages the reader to think again about forgiveness and how it impacts, challenges and transforms relationships.
The Five Minute Fantasies series offers arousing fiction for the discerning reader. Twenty erotic short stories by bestselling authors including Gwen Masters, Jeremy Edwards, Elizabeth Coldwell and Shanna Germain. Indulge, enjoy and come back for more with these five minutes stories that will get you out of day mode and straight into play mode! Lucy And The Way That It Is by Ralph Greco Jr Life gets interesting for Private Eye, Ben when the ex he’s never been able to forget walks into his office and offers him a case he can’t refuse. On this job the lady’s the retainer and the fees are paid in regular instalments. A Little Bit Of Luxury by Kitti Bernetti She likes things new and beautiful and the more luxurious the better. This just built, luxury, penthouse flat is the ultimate treat. The bed is pristine, with a soft fur cover that is too enticing for her to resist, it’s time to enjoy a little luxury Dancing For Women by Stephen Albrow There’s a new challenge for stripogram Lucy. She’s never danced for women before and it’s making her nervous. But when the music starts and the show begins she quickly finds that’s it’s a lot more satisfying than her normal audience. Plain Jane by J. Carron A pill that makes you irresistible to men? Could it possibly be real? When you’re a Plain Jane who’s been missing out on all the male attention it’s got to be worth a try. Armed with a pack of the little blue pills and a bit of hope our Plain Jane is hoping to changing her life. Half Measures by Jeremy Edwards Stewart’s Saturday night at home takes a pleasant, but unexpected turn when Millicent turns up at his door with no pants on. In The Liquor Store by Gwen Masters A fabulous old liquor store with a wine cellar and tall wooden shelves stocked with all manner of drinks. But it’s the company of Daniel that’s really intoxicating, not the alcohol on sale. Call Girl by Landon Dixon Welcome to the high pressure world of the call centre. Little cubicles full of stress and way too much work for way too little pay. Of course there are some perks to the job, and when sexy young Vicky starts on the night shift it’s soon more than just the customers who are getting excellent hands-on service. A Rank Outsider by Phoebe Grafton Janet is used to being the pretty one and getting all the male attention. All that‘s about to change when a holiday cruise to the Aegean turns out to be a life changing experience for her not so attractive best friend A Sculptor’s Touch by Roger Frank Selby Nude modelling wasn’t new to Angela, but a blind artist was. She was nervous, but his sculptures really were wonderful and he promised her that in his hands she would be the most beautiful woman on the planet. Birthday Treat by Alex de Kok One of the perks of Harry’s gardening job is getting to spend time with Janet, the gorgeous older woman who owns the house. He realises just how lucky he is when she invites him to celebrate his 19th birthday with dinner and a swim in her private pool. Backstory by Frances Jones Two reporters find that jousting for the best story is a real passion. The endless city hall meetings are always good for a hot lead, and things are even hotter behind closed doors where their passion makes the words come alive Brown Nosing by Richard Terry When the new boss invites you to dance at the office Christmas party, you’d be a fool to say no. Especially since she’s hot, powerful and downright scary. Has she noticed the way you’ve been watching her? Perhaps tonight everything you’ve dreamed could come true, the only way to find out is to follow your nose and see where it takes you. Farmer’s Daughter by Landon Dixon Its a hot and steamy summer when Allen is sent to the farm for a long day of sorting out the accounts. The job is made far more interesting by the farmers daughter who turns out to be hotter than the summer. First Time For Everything by Mary Borsellino They say that you always remember your first kiss, your first love and your first time. When they all coincide on the eve of a new millenium and with the boy you’ve been wanting for years that‘s definitely the case. High Heels And Monster Bikes by Kitti Bernetti We all have things that push our buttons, things that turn us on even when we’re supposed to be working. For Matt it’s shoes. He’s been enjoying daydreaming his life away to the clicketty clack of high heels. When fate walks up to him wearing killer heel the only thing he can do is to put the dreams on the pillion and ride in to the sunset. Neighbourhood Watch by Stephen Albrow What was going on in that house across the street? Rachel had been watching the endless stream of men coming and going for days. Now it was time to find out what lay behind the closed door. Cherry Bottom by Shanna Germain Some lessons are best left to the experts to teach. Cate and Andrew definitely think so. Miss Suzanne’s anal sex class soon helps them gain the confidence they were looking for. Afterdeath by Susan Placido They say that true love never dies, and they’re right. Love didn’t die, but Mike did. And yet, death is just a door way, and sometimes you can open that door and bring those you love back to you, even if its only for a moment that feels like forever. Titus Loves Flowers by Jim Baker Letting the family take turns in deciding where you go on holiday can land you in some interesting places, like behind a horses butt in a cramped caravan. It’s at times like these that you need a sense of humour and to remind yourself just why you got together in the first place. Working Conditions by Elizabeth Coldwell Some law firms can be a law unto themselves as Alison Mills is about to find out. Wallace and Barker is one of the old school firms, where the men are used to doing whatever they want. They don’t hire many woman and if the rumours are true it’s because of the harsh rules. It’s an incredible opportunity though, and Miss Mills will do anything to be a part of that world.
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