Books with author Gardner

Aaron Rowe walks in his sleep and haunted by dreams he can’t explain and memories he can’t recover. Death doesn’t scare him—his new job with a funeral director may even be his salvation. But if he doesn’t discover the truth about his hidden past soon, he may fall asleep one night and never wake up. In this dark and witty psychological drama about survival, Aaron finds that making peace with the dead may be easier than coming to terms with the living.

The classic children’s collection: four fantastical stories filled with wit and wisdom, humor and heart In this wonderful collection of fairy tales, John Gardner turns a timeless tradition into a topsy-turvy whirlwind. In the title story, a kindly simpleton unwittingly becomes sovereign of an avian race. A wicked witch seeks a new profession—and, thus, identity—in “The Witch’s Wish.” In “The Pear Tree,” a sweet young boy is rewarded for his good deeds. And “The Gnome and the Dragon” presents a realm so mixed-up not even the reader can distinguish reality from illusion. With tongue-in-cheek wit and laugh-out-loud humor, Gardner has created a world that will delight readers of all ages.

Creation is crumbling around us, yet we can't see it. War, famine, carnage--it's just the beginning.Darkness is coming for us all.They say evil comes in many forms. For former soldier Gabriel Willis, it looks like a motorcade of SUVs storming his quiet neighborhood, shattering his hard-earned domestic bliss. His loving wife and children watch in horror as he is arrested and whisked away without explanation. Accused of terrorism and brutally tortured for information, Gabriel later learns that his family has been kidnapped and hidden away. The madman responsible hands him the arduous task of trekking to the mountains of Afghanistan to find famed archaeologist, Othia Morgan, and return with her--or his family will die. Othia has unearthed a secret truth hidden deep beneath the sands of an ancient Afghan village, a terrifying beginning to the end of it all. The lives of hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting souls are destined to be caught in the middle--including Gabriel and Othia.With the weight of the world upon him, Gabriel is left with an impossible decision: When should a devoted family man place the needs of the many above those of his precious few?

John Gardner’s classic fairy-tale collection depicts a world where anything can happen—and often doesA humble thistle girl, a wise old philosopher, a hapless woodchopper, and an unscrupulous king—these are the vivid protagonists of Gardner’s masterful book for children. Richly and humorously drawn, they face challenges at every turn. And in a realm where any one of these unconventional heroes might triumph, the reader will delight in expecting the unexpected! Inventive and illustrative, entertaining and edifying, these four stories demonstrate the quirky challenges of distinguishing between good and evil and living happily ever after.

From #1 bestselling culinary cozy mystery author A. Gardner comes the latest deadly delicious Poppy Peters installment... Poppy Peters, sometimes-sleuth and recent pastry school graduate, is soaking up the southern sun as the new official pastry chef of Magnolia Harbor Inn and Spa. But the sunny tourist town of Gator Bay is anything but pleasant when a country music star turns up dead in one of the hotel rooms...after eating one of Poppy's pastries! Ready to do anything to prove her tasty strawberry tartlets aren't to blame, Poppy's search for the killer takes her everywhere from a local fish n' fry to an abandoned gator farm. With the help of her kitchen mate Bree, an old flame, and a not-so-sweet cat named Muffin, Poppy finds herself wrapped up in a hurricane of clues. But which ones lead to the killer? Poppy must solve the riddle quickly or else she too might be fed a bite of a deadly dessert. **Recipes included!** Poppy Peters Mysteries: Southern Peach Pie & A Dead Guy (book #1) Chocolate Macaroons and a Dead Groom (book #2) Ice Cream Bombes and Stolen Thongs (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection) Bananas Foster and a Dead Mobster (book #3) Strawberry Tartlets and a Dead Starlet (book #4) What critics are saying: "A charming cozy mystery featuring likable characters. A. Gardner does a marvelous job at keeping the storyline fresh and entertaining. I look forward to seeing what surprises A. Gardner has in store for us next!" —Fresh Fiction "If you are a fan of tasty mysteries that showcase delectable desserts and a strong heroine, this is one to pick up." —Night Owl Reviews "One of the best perks of summer is eating a warm slice of Georgia peach pie. Throw in a murder and you’ve got the makings of a juicy cozy mystery. Southern Peach Pie and a Dead Guy: A Poppy Peters Mystery by debut author A. Gardner is a delicious e-book." —MomTrends, Ebook Pick for Summer

THREE STARRED REVIEWS "Remarkable."--VOYA"Genre-defying."--Booklist"Deeply compelling."--BCCB"A beautiful, moving, and thoughtful story about how far we're willing to go for family."-Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces Vera Rivers' life is split in two: before her twin sister Ava disappeared twelve years ago and after.Before was hot Junes and ice cream trucks, dancing in sprinklers, loud Christmas mornings and pancakes on Saturdays. The after is everything else: police officers, investigators, tips, theories, leads, but never any answers. The case made headlines, shocked Vera's Northern California community, and turned her family into tragic celebrities. Now, at eighteen, Vera is counting down the days until she starts her new life at college in Portland, Oregon, far away from the dark cloud she and her family have lived under for twelve years. But all that changes when a girl shows up at the local hospital. Her name is Ava Rivers and she wants to go home.Ava's return begins to mend the fractures in the Rivers family. Vera and Ava's estranged older brother returns. Vera reconnects with Max, the sweet, artistic boy from her childhood. Their parents smile again. But the questions remain: Where was Ava all these years? And who is she now?Powerful and gripping, The Second Life of Ava Rivers is equal parts thriller, mystery, and haunting meditation on grief, family, and forgiveness.

Olivia is waiting impatiently to tell her best friends the good news about the highwire act -- it's been picked to perform in New York for a night! But her friends have news of their own... Olivia loses herself in learning the trapeze, while Tom begins his West End stage career in The Sound of Music. But weird things keep happening, and soon Tom is on the verge of losing everything he's ever wanted. It wouldn't have anything to do with the return of Katie Wilkes-Cox, would it? In a nail-biting finale, Olivia performs not one but two daring rescues before tragedy strikes... As for Katie, could it be So Long, Farewell ... for ever...