Adopting a baby from China should be a fairy tale ending to a story of loss. But life offers no guarantees, no matter how a family is formed. Children come with needs, while middle age presents its own set of challenges. The goals from our thirties often seem hollow, unattainable or irrelevant. Illness can make its sudden devastating appearance. Big Sister, the sequel to Little Sister, is the story of such a family, twice blessed by adoption. Mark and Rena, the American couple who adopted the baby Mooi Mooi (now called Jennie) from Little Sister, live in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. While adopting Jennie satisfied Renas yearning for a child; adopting Lily, their second daughter, blew apart a marriage already edging toward divorce. It isnt Lilys faultthough Mark would like to blame her, if only to get Rena angry. Yet even before Lilys arrival, hed begun questioning his life choices, his health was declining, hed backed away from family obligations. Then at fifty, he learns he was adopted. Always the strong one, Renas faith in marriage is shattered when Mark leaves, apparently for a younger woman. She appears resolute, however, amidst Lilys head injury, her brother, Jims unexpected arrival; and her best friend, Lindas problems with her son, Zach. Yet she cries each night, lonely and afraid, desperately wanting her husband. Jennie's a daddys girl, figuring she would have favored her birthfather as well. Ashamed of her role in Lilys injury, she strives to be a better sister. Her strength is evident as she helps an unwed mother make a difficult, life-altering choice.
What does one do with an unwanted girlwhether an unmarried aunt in a crowded apartment, or a girl child, when a son is required? The day her nephew is born, Wong Ying Fa, a Chinese silk embroiderer, considers her future. Blessed with a lucky face and a loving family, she wants to meet a man who can hold an intelligent conversation. Li Gwai Ha is that mantraveled, sophisticated and handsome. Best of all, he wants her, and not solely because his uncle, their Party Boss, demands an heir. Her dreams die when she bears a girl. Betrayed by her family, and faced with a cruel choice, she and Gwai Ha must abandon their child in order to survive.
Anna Westover had no idea at seventeen, still grief-stricken from the loss of her grandmother, and back living with her horrible family, that Victor Spofford, a young charismatic Baptist preacher, would be the wrong choice, the worst choice. On her grandmothers insistence shed refused to even date the boy shed always loved, simply because he wasnt Baptist. Annas wedding was a dream; her new life in western Massachusetts a wondrous challengeuntil mysterious letters began to arrive. Then Victor changed . . . or was it that he finally revealed his true nature? No one would believe that he abused her. He never hitat least not intentionally. And as the preachers wife, she could confide in no one. To others, he was gorgeous, enlightened and dynamic. He knew the perfect words to give comfort or guidance. He brought scores of sinners to the Lord with his woeful childhood tales. Who was she but his meek wife, lovely yet subdued, who sat in her accustomed front-row pew each Sunday morning, gazing up at him in adoration? He was always sorry later: crying, begging forgiveness. And she wanted to believe him. He was so pitiful in his sorrow. But after he lost his job and they returned to New Hampshire, her hopes are firmly and completely crushed when another letter arrives, and she uncovers his lies. Desperate for comfort, she turns to another man. Then the violence escalates and she must take a stand.
Investigative filmmaker-turned-sleuth Maggie MacGowen embarks on a film project about the unsolved murder of a Los Angeles policeman, putting her life--and that of her boyfriend, a friend of the officer--in extreme danger. 12,500 first printing.
Megan Rosswell wants nothing to do with marriage and family. Raised a strict Baptist and now a customer support analyst for a thriving minicomputer manufacturer, she craves the fast life: gourmet dinners, trips to far-off places, designer clothes and an educated man with which to share it. She surrenders her innocence to Donald Alexander, a smooth-talking pilot, who showers her with all the thrills that money can buy; yet can t forget Stan Zambinskyi, the handyman she d longed for since childhood. The partying takes its toll, leaving her empty and exhausted. Then Donald is caught drunk on the job, refuses the airlines rehab program and is can only find work flying for a Columbian drug lord. A family tragedy forces her to take responsibility, not only for herself, but also for her sister s child. In the process of rearranging her life, she buys a Victorian, becomes a landlady and Stan s employer, and gives birth to Penny, an adorable baby girl. When Donald dumps a load and someone kidnaps Penny, she must fight for her very survival.Set in the minicomputer boom of the 1980s, Megabyte Rush captures a time when disk storage was king and working women discovered the true meaning of independence.
Adopting a baby from China should be a fairy tale ending to a story of loss. But life offers no guarantees, no matter how a family is formed. Children come with needs, while middle age presents its own set of challenges. The goals from our thirties often seem hollow, unattainable or irrelevant. Illness can make its sudden devastating appearance. Big Sister, the sequel to Little Sister, is the story of such a family, twice blessed by adoption. Mark and Rena, the American couple who adopted the baby Mooi Mooi (now called Jennie) from Little Sister, live in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. While adopting Jennie satisfied Renas yearning for a child; adopting Lily, their second daughter, blew apart a marriage already edging toward divorce. It isnt Lilys faultthough Mark would like to blame her, if only to get Rena angry. Yet even before Lilys arrival, hed begun questioning his life choices, his health was declining, hed backed away from family obligations. Then at fifty, he learns he was adopted. Always the strong one, Renas faith in marriage is shattered when Mark leaves, apparently for a younger woman. She appears resolute, however, amidst Lilys head injury, her brother, Jims unexpected arrival; and her best friend, Lindas problems with her son, Zach. Yet she cries each night, lonely and afraid, desperately wanting her husband. Jennie's a daddys girl, figuring she would have favored her birthfather as well. Ashamed of her role in Lilys injury, she strives to be a better sister. Her strength is evident as she helps an unwed mother make a difficult, life-altering choice.
What does one do with an unwanted girlwhether an unmarried aunt in a crowded apartment, or a girl child, when a son is required? The day her nephew is born, Wong Ying Fa, a Chinese silk embroiderer, considers her future. Blessed with a lucky face and a loving family, she wants to meet a man who can hold an intelligent conversation. Li Gwai Ha is that mantraveled, sophisticated and handsome. Best of all, he wants her, and not solely because his uncle, their Party Boss, demands an heir. Her dreams die when she bears a girl. Betrayed by her family, and faced with a cruel choice, she and Gwai Ha must abandon their child in order to survive.
Anna Westover had no idea at seventeen, still grief-stricken from the loss of her grandmother, and back living with her horrible family, that Victor Spofford, a young charismatic Baptist preacher, would be the wrong choice, the worst choice. On her grandmothers insistence shed refused to even date the boy shed always loved, simply because he wasnt Baptist. Annas wedding was a dream; her new life in western Massachusetts a wondrous challengeuntil mysterious letters began to arrive. Then Victor changed . . . or was it that he finally revealed his true nature? No one would believe that he abused her. He never hitat least not intentionally. And as the preachers wife, she could confide in no one. To others, he was gorgeous, enlightened and dynamic. He knew the perfect words to give comfort or guidance. He brought scores of sinners to the Lord with his woeful childhood tales. Who was she but his meek wife, lovely yet subdued, who sat in her accustomed front-row pew each Sunday morning, gazing up at him in adoration? He was always sorry later: crying, begging forgiveness. And she wanted to believe him. He was so pitiful in his sorrow. But after he lost his job and they returned to New Hampshire, her hopes are firmly and completely crushed when another letter arrives, and she uncovers his lies. Desperate for comfort, she turns to another man. Then the violence escalates and she must take a stand.
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