Books with author Matthew Sullivan

Soon to be a major television event from Pascal Pictures, starring Tom Holland.Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, the USA Today and #1 Amazon Charts bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours. Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He’s a normal Italian teenager—obsessed with music, food, and girls—but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders.Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.Fans of All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and Unbroken will enjoy this riveting saga of history, suspense, and love.

When a bookshop patron commits suicide, his favorite store clerk must unravel the puzzle he left behind in this “intriguingly dark, twisty” (Kirkus Reviews) debut novel from an award-winning short story writer.Lydia Smith lives her life hiding in plain sight. A clerk at the Bright Ideas bookstore, she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, eccentric colleagues, and the BookFrogs—the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store’s overwhelmed shelves. But when Joey Molina, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore’s upper room, Lydia’s life comes unglued. Always Joey’s favorite bookseller, Lydia has been bequeathed his meager worldly possessions. Trinkets and books; the detritus of a lonely, uncared for man. But when Lydia flips through his books she finds them defaced in ways both disturbing and inexplicable. They reveal the psyche of a young man on the verge of an emotional reckoning. And they seem to contain a hidden message. What did Joey know? And what does it have to do with Lydia? As Lydia untangles the mystery of Joey’s suicide, she unearths a long buried memory from her own violent childhood. Details from that one bloody night begin to circle back. Her distant father returns to the fold, along with an obsessive local cop, and the Hammerman, a murderer who came into Lydia’s life long ago and, as she soon discovers, never completely left. “Both charming and challenging” (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review), Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is a “multi-generational tale of abandonment, desperation, and betrayal…inventive and intricately plotted” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Soon to be a major television event from Pascal Pictures, starring Tom Holland.Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, the USA Today and #1 Amazon Charts bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours. Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He’s a normal Italian teenager—obsessed with music, food, and girls—but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders.Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.Fans of All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and Unbroken will enjoy this riveting saga of history, suspense, and love.

Soon to be a major television event from Pascal Pictures, starring Tom Holland.Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, the USA Today and #1 Amazon Charts bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours. Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He’s a normal Italian teenager—obsessed with music, food, and girls—but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders.Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.Fans of All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and Unbroken will enjoy this riveting saga of history, suspense, and love.

When a bookshop patron commits suicide, his favorite store clerk must unravel the puzzle he left behind in this “intriguingly dark, twisty” (Kirkus Reviews) debut novel from an award-winning short story writer.Lydia Smith lives her life hiding in plain sight. A clerk at the Bright Ideas bookstore, she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, eccentric colleagues, and the BookFrogs—the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store’s overwhelmed shelves. But when Joey Molina, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore’s upper room, Lydia’s life comes unglued. Always Joey’s favorite bookseller, Lydia has been bequeathed his meager worldly possessions. Trinkets and books; the detritus of a lonely, uncared for man. But when Lydia flips through his books she finds them defaced in ways both disturbing and inexplicable. They reveal the psyche of a young man on the verge of an emotional reckoning. And they seem to contain a hidden message. What did Joey know? And what does it have to do with Lydia? As Lydia untangles the mystery of Joey’s suicide, she unearths a long buried memory from her own violent childhood. Details from that one bloody night begin to circle back. Her distant father returns to the fold, along with an obsessive local cop, and the Hammerman, a murderer who came into Lydia’s life long ago and, as she soon discovers, never completely left. “Both charming and challenging” (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review), Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is a “multi-generational tale of abandonment, desperation, and betrayal…inventive and intricately plotted” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Goodreads Debut Author of the Month and an Indie Next Pick! “Sullivan’s debut is a page-turner featuring a heroine bookseller who solves a cold case with clues from books—what is not to love?” —Nina George, author of The Little French Bistro, and the New York Times bestselling The Little Paris Bookshop When a bookshop patron commits suicide, his favorite store clerk must unravel the puzzle he left behind in this fiendishly clever debut novel from an award-winning short story writer.Lydia Smith lives her life hiding in plain sight. A clerk at the Bright Ideas bookstore, she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, eccentric colleagues, and the BookFrogs—the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store’s overwhelmed shelves. But when Joey Molina, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore’s upper room, Lydia’s life comes unglued. Always Joey’s favorite bookseller, Lydia has been bequeathed his meager worldly possessions. Trinkets and books; the detritus of a lonely, uncared for man. But when Lydia flips through his books she finds them defaced in ways both disturbing and inexplicable. They reveal the psyche of a young man on the verge of an emotional reckoning. And they seem to contain a hidden message. What did Joey know? And what does it have to do with Lydia? As Lydia untangles the mystery of Joey’s suicide, she unearths a long buried memory from her own violent childhood. Details from that one bloody night begin to circle back. Her distant father returns to the fold, along with an obsessive local cop, and the Hammerman, a murderer who came into Lydia’s life long ago and, as she soon discovers, never completely left. Bedazzling, addictive, and wildly clever, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is a heart-pounding mystery that perfectly captures the intellect and eccentricity of the bookstore milieu and will keep you guessing until the very last page.​

Five teens connected by fate. An age-old battle between good and evil. A war that only the Orphans can end.It was an accident. That was what the authorities said killed Charlie Kim's parents. And in Charlie's mind, that was how it had to be. An accident meant closure. It meant that the driven fifteen-year-old could move on, reassemble his life, and return to pursuing the carefully planned future that he had mapped out for himself.However, when memories of his parents begin to vanish and suspicions arise, calling the accidental nature of their deaths into question, Charlie can't help but begin to doubt himself, his plans, and those around him.Doubt leads to discovery as Charlie locates four fellow orphans whose parents met similar ends. The teens quickly find themselves thrust into the center of an underground battle between good and evil that dates all the way back to the War in Heaven. With the scales in this conflict tipping toward the side of darkness, it’s up to the Orphans to save humanity. But, if they hope to stand a chance against the ultimate evil, they must first overcome the demons within. This fast-paced fantasy thriller not only entertains but also enlightens through a gripping tale of loss and rebirth that introduces mindfulness and meditation as a means to overcoming anxiety and finding happiness.

A dog with a ball is one of the most relentlessly hopeful creatures on Earth. After his best little-girl pal leaves for school, this dog hits up yoga mom, baby, and even the angry cat for a quick throw. No luck. Forced to go solo, the dog begins a hilarious one-sided game of fetch until naptime’s wild, ball-centric dream sequence. The pictures speak a thousand words in this comic book-style ode to canine monomania. Ball? Ball.

Don’t think there’s anything worse than not getting what you want for Christmas? Try finding out that you’re getting that gift you always dreamed of — only to have it taken away. That’s exactly what happens to seventh-grader Mitch Murphy. Just hours after discovering that he’s finally getting a Playstation 4 for Christmas, Mitch’s cousins get into a blowout Thanksgiving food fight and lose their Christmas presents as punishment. A mere bystander in the brawl, Mitch receives no mercy and is caught in the collateral damage. Stripped of the gift he spent the past two years obsessing over, all hope is lost for Mitch ... that is until he discovers where all of their presents are being stashed. With new life and one shot at his Playstation, Mitch must corral his motley crew of cousins to help him steal their presents back. But if they want to stand any chance of pulling off their holiday heist, they must first learn to work together.Middle grade comedy fans will love this hilarious holiday heist. This soon-to-be Christmas classic captures the true spirit of the season and the importance of family in a fun and fast-paced story that's enjoyable for children and parents alike.PUBLISHER'S NOTE: This book contains a couple of jokes about the big guy from the North Pole. The last thing we would ever want to do is potentially spill the beans on old Saint Nick and ruin the magic of Christmas for any child. If you think there is even the smallest chance your child still believes in Mr. Kringle, we recommend holding off a holiday season before buying this book. Don't worry, it will still be around and just as entertaining next year.

Don’t think there’s anything worse than not getting what you want for Christmas? Try finding out that you’re getting that gift you always dreamed of — only to have it taken away. That’s exactly what happens to seventh-grader Mitch Murphy. Just hours after discovering that he’s finally getting a Playstation 4 for Christmas, Mitch’s cousins get into a blowout Thanksgiving food fight and lose their Christmas presents as punishment. A mere bystander in the brawl, Mitch receives no mercy and is caught in the collateral damage. Stripped of the gift he spent the past two years obsessing over, all hope is lost for Mitch ... that is until he discovers where all of their presents are being stashed. With new life and one shot at his Playstation, Mitch must corral his motley crew of cousins to help him steal their presents back. But if they want to stand any chance of pulling off their holiday heist, they must first learn to work together.Middle grade comedy fans will love this hilarious holiday heist. This soon-to-be Christmas classic captures the true spirit of the season and the importance of family in a fun and fast-paced story that's enjoyable for children and parents alike.PUBLISHER'S NOTE: This book contains a couple of jokes about the big guy from the North Pole. The last thing we would ever want to do is potentially spill the beans on old Saint Nick and ruin the magic of Christmas for any child. If you think there is even the smallest chance your child still believes in Mr. Kringle, we recommend holding off a holiday season before buying this book. Don't worry, it will still be around and just as entertaining next year.

A 2014 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor BookA dog with a ball is one of the most relentlessly hopeful creatures on Earth. After his best little-girl pal leaves for school, this dog hits up yoga mom, baby, and even the angry cat for a quick throw. No luck. Forced to go solo, the dog begins a hilarious one-sided game of fetch until naptime’s wild, ball-centric dream sequence. The pictures speak a thousand words in this comic book-style ode to canine monomania. Ball? Ball.

Five teens connected by fate. An age-old battle between good and evil. A war that only the Orphans can end.It was an accident. That was what the authorities said killed Charlie Kim's parents. And in Charlie's mind, that was how it had to be. An accident meant closure. It meant that the driven fifteen-year-old could move on, reassemble his life, and return to pursuing the carefully planned future that he had mapped out for himself. However, when memories of his parents begin to vanish and suspicions arise, calling the accidental nature of their deaths into question, Charlie can't help but begin to doubt himself, his plans, and those around him. Doubt leads to discovery as Charlie locates four fellow orphans whose parents met similar ends. The teens quickly find themselves thrust into the center of an underground battle between good and evil that dates all the way back to the War in Heaven. With the scales in this conflict tipping toward the side of darkness, it’s up to the Orphans to save humanity. But, if they hope to stand a chance against the ultimate evil, they must first overcome the demons within. This fast-paced fantasy thriller not only entertains but also enlightens through a gripping tale of loss and rebirth that introduces mindfulness and meditation as a means to overcoming anxiety and finding happiness.