Aya Cash

A tale inspired by the tragic first-century massacre of hundreds of Jewish people at Masada presents the stories of a hated daughter, a baker's wife, a girl disguised as a warrior, and a medicine woman who keeps doves and secrets while Roman soldiers draw near.

Meet Gretchen and Jimmy. She's a cynical PR rep for rappers and he's a narcissistic British novelist. Impressed by each other's bad behavior at Jimmy's ex-girlfriend's wedding, they begin what they swear is a casual sexual relationship, until it turns out to be more than that.

While spending Christmas at their grandparents' farm, Lily becomes convinced that her younger brother Liam is right about White Cow being lonely and helps him seek a companion for her, leaving little time for Christmas preparations or reading.

This is the story of a teenage girl's journey from a small Midwestern swim team to her first state meet, her brutal professional training, and the final, record-breaking swims that lead to her dizzying ascent to the Olympic podium in Barcelona. It's the story of a girl who discovers, in the loneliness of adolescence, in the family tragedies that threaten to engulf her, the resilience of the human spirit and the spectacular power of her own body.--From...