The Daydreamer

A delightful literary foray for adults and children alike, from the inexhaustible imagination of Booker Prize-winning, best-selling author Ian McEwan. In these seven exquisitely interlinked episodes, the grown-up protagonist Peter Fortune reveals the secret journeys, metamorphoses, and adventures of his childhood. Living somewhere between dream and reality, Peter experiences fantastical transformations: he swaps bodies with the wise old family cat; exchanges existences with a cranky infant; encounters a very bad doll who has come to life and is out for revenge; and rummages through a kitchen drawer filled with useless objects to discover some not-so-useless cream that actually makes people vanish. Finally, he wakes up as an eleven-year-old inside a grown-up body and embarks on the truly fantastic adventure of falling in love. Moving, dreamlike, and extraordinary, The Daydreamer marks yet another imaginative departure for Ian McEwan.

Aiden Ellis is an only-child who lives with fears filled with tears. Daydream’s lead him through times of glory to escape his unknown and reclusive father. This lonely state of mind is agonized by his single-mother, Katie, who works excessive hours during a male dominated era and regrets not spending enough time with her son. Both take fascinating paths to resolve their emotional struggles with family, friends, and religion.

Vampire fanatic Evangeline dreams of a happily ever after. Not willing to settle for the next best thing, she won’t give up the idea that her happy ending is out there, somewhere. When she meets the man she thinks could bring that dream to life, she’s desperate to find out more. Who is the mysterious Gabriel, anyway? As their attraction grows, Evangeline suspects there’s far more to him than meets the eye. But just as they are about to become a “real” couple, tragedy strikes. Has her happily ever after slipped through her fingertips?

She’s got her head in the clouds and a taste for solving crime… Mei Yamagawa is out of luck and out of money. After five years in Tokyo, she has little to show for it besides a laundry list of unrealized dreams. Left without a choice, she returns to her rural Japanese hometown, ready to be branded a failure by her relatives and rivals. At the least, she looks forward to seeing her best friend, until Akiko is accused of murdering her own father. As Mei helps her farmer mother with the crops, she scouts for clues to clear her friend’s name. But during her investigation, she can’t help but notice the celebrity chef looking in her direction. The amateur detective can balance a new love interest and a murder case… can’t she? To clear her friend of the crime and find the real killer, Mei’s going to need every last ounce of her imagination… and just a pinch of luck. The Daydreamer Detective is the savory starter to the Miso Cozy series of cozy mystery novels. If you like twisty plots, delectable food descriptions, and rural Japanese towns, then you’ll love Steph Gennaro's culinary tale. Buy The Daydreamer Detective today to savor every last morsel of a delicious mystery! Additional Keywords: cozy mystery, cozy, mystery, J-drama, interracial, multicultural, romance, Japan, Tokyo, chef, culinary, farming, slow food, murder, failure, painting, family drama, female detective, detective, sleuth, amateur sleuth, Japanese, Japanese food, free mystery, free cozy mystery.

Tragedy strikes Chikata again! When Noriko Kubo, a local small business coach, is found dead in her back garden, Mei feels the pull of a good mystery and the desire to solve another case, especially at the behest of her best friend. With several suspects that need to be questioned or followed, she has all the skills to help out and the imagination to piece together the clues. But time is not on her side and neither is good luck. Her baby is crying for hours every night, her husband’s restaurant is so popular he’s never around, and her new house is in jeopardy of never being built. Mei doesn’t have the energy to help with a murder investigation... or does she? Soon, everyone is depending on her for everything, and Mei feels lost and unsure of her own future. She loves her family and her tea shop, but she’s never really found her calling unless she’s helping to solve a murder case. That’s not a legitimate career for her, though, is it? Can Mei juggle her busy life, secure her place in society, and still help find Noriko’s killer? With her head in the clouds and a taste for solving crime, you don’t want to miss Mei in The Daydreamer Detective Finds Her Calling, the intensely delicious fifth course to the Miso Cozy series of cozy mystery novels. Buy The Daydreamer Detective Finds Her Calling today to continue with the series! Additional Keywords: cozy mystery, cozy, mystery, J-drama, interracial, multicultural, romance, Japan, Tokyo, chef, culinary, farming, slow food, murder, failure, painting, family drama, female detective, detective, sleuth, amateur sleuth, Japanese, Japanese food.

Thirty of Hans Christian Andersen's most cherished stories in single volumes Illustrator various artists. Known all over the world, these fairytales hold stories of great value and are a source of inspiration for both young and old.