Uncle Janice

Twenty-four-year-old Janice Itwaru is an “uncle”—NYPD lingo for an undercover narcotics officer—and the heroine of the most exuberantand original cop novel in years. A New York City cop who can last eighteen months in Narcotics, without getting killed or demoted first, will automatically get promoted to detective. Undercover narc Janice Itwaru is at month seventeen. Ambitious, desperate for that promotion, she hits the sidewalks of Queens in her secondhand hoochie clothes, hoping to convince potential criminals—drug dealers, addicts, dummies, whomever—to commit a felony on her behalf. And things aren’t any easier back at the narco office, where she has to keep up with the bantering lies and inventively cruel pranks of her fellow uncles while coping with the ridiculous demands of her NYPD bosses. With an ailing mother at home, her cover nearly blown, quota pressures from her superiors, and rumors circulating that Internal Affairs has her unit under surveillance, Janice is running terribly short on luck as her promotion deadline approaches. Now she has to decide which evil to confront: the absurd bureaucrats at One Police Plaza, or the violent drug dealers who may already be on to her identity. Bursting with the glorious chaos of the New York City streets, Uncle Janice is both a deeply funny portrait of how undercover cops really talk and act, and a compelling story of their crazy, dangerous, and complicated lives.

Twenty-four-year-old Janice Itwaru is an “uncle”—NYPD lingo for an undercover narcotics officer—and the heroine of the most exuberantand original cop novel in years. A New York City cop who can last eighteen months in Narcotics, without getting killed or demoted first, will automatically get promoted to detective. Undercover narc Janice Itwaru is at month seventeen. Ambitious, desperate for that promotion, she hits the sidewalks of Queens in her secondhand hoochie clothes, hoping to convince potential criminals—drug dealers, addicts, dummies, whomever—to commit a felony on her behalf. And things aren’t any easier back at the narco office, where she has to keep up with the bantering lies and inventively cruel pranks of her fellow uncles while coping with the ridiculous demands of her NYPD bosses. With an ailing mother at home, her cover nearly blown, quota pressures from her superiors, and rumors circulating that Internal Affairs has her unit under surveillance, Janice is running terribly short on luck as her promotion deadline approaches. Now she has to decide which evil to confront: the absurd bureaucrats at One Police Plaza, or the violent drug dealers who may already be on to her identity. Bursting with the glorious chaos of the New York City streets, Uncle Janice is both a deeply funny portrait of how undercover cops really talk and act, and a compelling story of their crazy, dangerous, and complicated lives.

A 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection Amelia Bloomer List’s 2019 Top Ten Recommended Feminist Books for Young Readers A Governor General’s Literary Award Finalist A Junior Library Guild Selection A Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize Semifinalist A BC Book Prize Finalist “A love letter to girls—bittersweet and full of hope.” —Ibi Zoboi, author of National Book Award Finalist American Street “This is a stellar debut.” —Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of Little & Lion and Pointe “A vibrant, essential story of healing, resilience, and finding one’s family.” —Stephanie Kuehn, author of William C. Morris Award winning Charm & Strange “A raw, beautiful, unforgettable must-read.” —Tiffany D. Jackson, author of Allegedly “Poetic.” —Angela Johnson, award-winning author of Heaven “A powerful, poignant story about refusing to let the past dictate who you are or who you will become.” —Kirkus Reviews “This is a well-written, thought-provoking book that tackles difficult topics…a stirring debut.” —School Library Journal (starred review) Sixteen-year-old Indy struggles to conceal her pregnancy while searching for a place to belong in this stunning debut novel that’s perfect for fans of Amber Smith and Sara Zarr. Indira Ferguson has done her best to live by her Grammy’s rules—study hard in school, be respectful, and never let a boy take advantage of her. But it hasn’t always been easy, especially living in her mother’s shadow. When Indy is sent to stay in Nassau, trouble follows her and she must hide an unwanted pregnancy from her aunt, who would rather throw Indy out onto the street than see the truth. Completely broke with only a hand-me-down pregnancy book as a resource, Indy desperately looks for a safe space to call home. After stumbling upon a yoga retreat, she wonders if she’s found that place. But Indy is about to discover that home is much bigger than just four walls and a roof—it’s about the people she chooses to share it with.

While on vacation in Costa Rica with his wife and friends, Travis Lee, also tries to fulfill a promise to his uncle. He is instructed to find a property that was given to his uncle, and to sell it. Not even knowing for sure if the property exists, he not only finds it, but also digs up a lot more than he expected to find.

"A rare and exquisite story . . . Transports you out of time, out of place, into a world you can feel on your very skin." —Elizabeth Gilbert The New York Times bestseller Janice Y.K. Lee's latest novel, The Expatriates, is now available from Penguin In the sweeping tradition of The English Patient, Janice Y.K. Lee's debut novel is a tale of love and betrayal set in war-torn Hong Kong. In 1942, Englishman Will Truesdale falls headlong into a passionate relationship with Trudy Liang, a beautiful Eurasian socialite. But their affair is soon threatened by the invasion of the Japanese as World War II overwhelms their part of the world. Ten years later, Claire Pendleton comes to Hong Kong to work as a piano teacher and also begins a fateful affair. As the threads of this spellbinding novel intertwine, impossible choices emerge-between love and safety, courage and survival, the present, and above all, the past.

The book provides sheer reading pleasure of ten hours or more. There are different stories for everyone’s entertainment. (1) “To Give” speaks of a very successful man embroiled in a scandal attempting suicide but failing. (2) “The Opportunist” is a young man, who was an orphan, wanting the best that life has to offer, but is it that easy? (3) “The Spirit” of an executed butler finds ways to clear his name and bring the culprits to justice. (4) In “The Bet,” the bet with a rich man puts a young man in trouble. (5) “Secret Agent XX4,” a British agent of Indian origin is sent to India to break the supply chain of heroin from India to Europe. (6) “Detective Dan” has to solve the murder of a hated man. (7) In “The Heir,” a very rich widow loses her only son, her heir, but has she really lost her heir? (8) “The Restless Soul” seeks help to solve his murder. (9) “A Grandfather’s Revenge,” tells the story of an innocent married woman traumatised by her wealthy family and how her grandfather takes his revenge on them. (10) “Aphrika,” tells the story of early Indian settlers migrating to Africa in the 1920s—the hardships they went through and how they lived.

Otto is the entertaining and humorous story that spans one man's life from childhood in Germany to adulthood in Australia. Named by his grandfather (referred to as "Opa" in German), Otto conjures up a great deal of trouble and chaos along his journey. Otto's early days seem to be made in heaven--as soon as he is able to talk and walk, his mischievous behavior is both applauded and protected by his grandfather, Opa. Otto's childhood antics include skipping school and lazily relieving himself in a gap between the wall and the bed--instead of going to the toilet. His parents become so frustrated with his behavior that they consider giving him up for adoption, but Opa continues to see only the good in his beloved grandson. It seems Otto could even get away with murder. Will Otto ever be able to take responsibility for his actions, or will his grandfather's loyalty to his grandson stand in the way? Otto's antics will surprise, amuse, and delight you as you follow his never-ending quest to find the greener pasture on the other side of the fence.

Book five of the bestselling Angel Ridge series Love can grow from the darkest of beginnings. Patrick Houston has worked hard to make changes in his life so he can be someone his children and Angel Ridge will be proud of. But Frannie Thompson is back in town reminding him of a time when he'd been out of control and failing the people in his life. Can love and loyalty grow from such a rocky start? Was Mayor Patrick Houston actually going to pretend he didn't know her? "What can I do for you, Ms. Thompson?" he repeated. Frannie looked at the file in her lap, resting on top of her briefcase. She had moved to Angel Ridge to open a non-profit business that would help people struggling to find jobs and housing. She couldn't just walk away. But this encounter with Houston was unbelievable. "Ms. Thompson?" He was in for a shock if he thought she would play along to make this more comfortable for him. "I had no idea you were the mayor. Your first name isn't on any of the information I've seen. Just your initials." He absently rubbed his chin, which made her notice he hadn't bothered to shave. "Yes, well, the only thing anyone around here cares about is that my last name is 'Houston'." He actually smiled then and added, "A Houston has been the mayor of Angel Ridge for more than a hundred years." "How nice for you." She stood. "However, it's your first name that would have mattered to me, since that was all you cared to share. It would have also been nice if you'd included that you're married." Deborah Grace Staley is a life-long resident of East Tennessee. Married to her college sweetheart, she lives in the Foothills of the Smoky Mountains in a circa 1867 farmhouse that has Angel's Wings in the gingerbread trim. She is working on the next novel in the award-winning, bestselling Angel Ridge series. Visit her at www.deborahgracestaley.com.