Audiobooks narrated by Diana Gardiner

"This smash bestseller about privileged Vassar classmates shocked America in the sixties and remains 'juicy . . . witty . . . brilliant' (Cosmopolitan). At Vassar, they were known as 'the group'—eight young women of privilege, the closest of friends, an eclectic mix of vibrant personalities. A week after graduation in 1933, they all gather for the wedding of Kay Strong, one of their own, before going their separate ways in the world. In the years that follow, they will each know accomplishment and loss in equal measure, pursuing careers and marriage, experiencing the joys and traumas of sexual awakening and motherhood, all while suffering through betrayals, infidelities, and sometimes madness. Some of them will drift apart. Some will play important roles in the personal dramas of others. But it is tragedy that will ultimately unite the group once again. A novel that stunned the world when it was first published in 1963, Mary McCarthy's The Group found acclaim, controversy, and a place atop the New York Times bestseller list for nearly two years for its frank and controversial exploration of women's issues, social concerns, and sexuality. A blistering satire of the mores of an emergent generation of women, The Group is McCarthy's enduring masterpiece, still as relevant, powerful, and wonderfully entertaining fifty years on. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Mary McCarthy including rare images from the author's estate. "

Mary McCarthy (Author), Diana Gardiner (Narrator)

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The Groves of Academe: A Novel

"A college instructor embarks on a fanatical quest to save his job—and enact righteous revenge—in this brilliantly acerbic satire of university politics during the early Cold War years Henry Mulcahy's future is in question. An instructor of literature at Jocelyn College, an institute of higher learning renowned for its progressive approach to education, he has just received word that he will not be teaching next semester. He strongly suspects that his dismissal has been engineered by his nemesis, the college president, who Henry believes resents his superior skills as an educator. Or perhaps he is being targeted by the government in this Cold War era, now that Senator Joseph McCarthy's communist witch hunt is in full swing, especially since Henry's dedication to independent thinking is, he believes, renowned. Whatever the case, Henry Mulcahy wants justice—and vengeance—and he will not go quietly without a fight. But the battle might expose too much of Henry's true nature . . . Witty and biting, Mary McCarthy's The Groves of Academe is a deliciously pointed satire of the world of higher education and its petty despots, tiny wars, and internal politics. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Mary McCarthy including rare images from the author's estate."

Mary McCarthy (Author), Diana Gardiner (Narrator)

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The Fight for Sex Ed: The Century-Long Battle Between Truth and Doctrine

"The first comprehensive trade history of sex ed in American schools-and an impassioned call to reform sex ed into a powerful tool for reproductive justice and social equality The U.S. has some of the highest rates of STIs and teen pregnancies in the industrialized world. A comprehensive sex education curriculum-which teaches facts on contraception, prophylactics, consent, and STIs-has been available since the 90s. Yet the majority of states require that sex education stress abstinence, and 22 states do not require sex ed in public schools at all. In The Fight for Sex Ed, writer, advocate, and historian Margaret Myers shows us how we got here. While the earliest calls for sex ed came from a coalition of religious leaders and doctors at the turn of the century who sought to control the prevalence of STIs, the advent of antibiotics and modern condoms meant that abstinence was no longer good public health policy. The religious right, however, continued to frame it as such, using its impressive machinery to replace scientific facts with conservative Christian values. Because sex ed is not mandated at the federal level, these battles have played out locally throughout the decades: through rigged school boards, administrative oustings, court cases, unjust firings, scare tactics, and threats. Myers also shows how the religious right has worked to narrow the discourse around sex ed, often dictating the terms of debate almost entirely. What we teach young people has serious ramifications for reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and public health. Sex education lies at the intersection of these hugely important cultural forces, yet it has been largely invisible. This book illuminates its potential-and its power."

Margaret Grace Myers (Author), Diana Gardiner (Narrator)

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Pearl in the Sand: A Novel - 10th Anniversary Edition

"Can a Canaanite harlot who made her living enticing men be a fitting wife for a leader of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes. This 10th anniversary edition of Pearl in the Sand includes new features that will invite you into the untold story of Rahab’s journey from lowly outcast to redeemed child of God. Rahab’s home is built into a wall, a wall that fortifies and protects the City of Jericho. However, other walls surround her too, walls of fear, rejection, and unworthiness… Years of pain and betrayal have wounded Rahab’s heart—she doubts whether her dreams of experiencing true love will ever come true… A woman with a wrecked past—a man of success, of faith... of pride. A marriage only God would conceive! Through the heartaches of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another’s worth and find healing in God."

Tessa Afshar (Author), Diana Gardiner (Narrator)

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Living for Pleasure

"If we all want happiness and pleasure so much, then why are we so bad at getting it? Pleasure feels amazing! Anxiety, however, does not. The Ancient Greek Philosopher Epicurus rolled these two strikingly intuitive claims into a simple formula for happiness and well-being--pursue pleasure without causing yourself anxiety. But wait, is that even possible? Can humans achieve lasting pleasure without suffering anxiety about failure and loss? Epicurus thinks we can, at least once we learn to pursue pleasure thoughtfully. In Living for Pleasure, philosopher Emily Austin offers a lively, jargon-free tour of Epicurean strategies for diminishing anxiety, achieving satisfaction, and relishing joys. Epicurean science was famously far ahead of its time, and Austin shows that so was its ethics and psychology. Epicureanism can help us make and keep good friends, prepare for suffering, combat imposter syndrome, build trust, recognize personal limitations, value truth, cultivate healthy attitudes towards money and success, manage political anxiety, develop gratitude, savor food, and face death. Readers will walk away knowing more about an important school of philosophy, but moreover understanding how to get what they want in life--happiness--without the anxiety of striving for it."

Emily A. Austin (Author), Diana Gardiner (Narrator)

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Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Bundle: The Perfect Impression (#13), The Perfect Deceit (#14), and The Perfect Mistress (#15)

"A bundle of books #13 (THE PERFECT IMPRESSION), #14 (THE PERFECT DECEIT) and #15 (THE PERFECT MISTRSS) in Blake Pierce’s Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Mystery series! This bundle offers books thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen in one convenient file, with over 150,000 words of reading. In THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13), when a group of couple friends leave their suburban lives to go away together on a vacation to an exclusive resort, their partying gets out of control—and someone ends up dead. As Jessie digs deep into their lives and begins to unearth their secrets, she quickly realizes that their perfect lives are not what they seem—and that a murderer may be amongst them. In THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14), when a string of newly-married couples are found murdered in high-end suburbs, Jessie is called in to find the connection between them. Her investigation brings her into the world of exclusive weddings, and a sprawling list of potential suspects. Only one thing is certain: it is a life-and-death race before the killer strikes again. In THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15), when wealthy suburban women are found murdered in their small town without rhyme or reason, Jessie soon realizes she is up against no ordinary killer. He is an unpredictable psychopath, beyond anyone she’s ever been up against—and she will have to enter the dark canals of his twisted mind if she has any chance of saving the next woman on his list. A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT suspense series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Books #16-#24 are also available!"

Blake Pierce (Author), Diana Gardiner, Ulka Mohanty (Narrator)

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In Your Power: React Less, Regain Control, Raise Others

"Be Powerful in a World that Can Make You Feel Powerless Whether dealing with an underperforming team member, an undervaluing boss, an undermining colleague, a difficult family member or partner, or the overwhelm of too much to do, we can find ourselves feeling “out of our power.” In this state of feeling ‘done to,’ emotionally hijacked, or in a mental swirl, the typical things we do to try to make it better often make it worse. Based on her research at Harvard Medical School and twenty years as a business psychologist, Dr. Sharon Melnick, a Marshall Goldsmith Top 100 Coach, shows you how to get back “in your power,” where you see how much you can control to show up as your best self and get the outcome you want. In Your Power: React Less, Regain Control, Raise Others guides you through twelve Power Portals, giving you a new approach to stop reacting to others’ limitations and instead raise yourself and others to be limitless. You will be able to: Reframe the problem to instantly find new solutions that benefit everyone and improve the culture you are all dealing with Neutralize the emotional effects of other people’s negativity, rather than internalizing it, and recover quickly Align others with your vision and powerful truth so they are emotionally moved and engaged to act The insights you’ll learn fuel resilience and well-being, rather than burnout, which comes from lack of power. In Your Power will help you win the promotion, get team members to perform at your standards, grow your business, connect with difficult loved ones, and maximize what you can control in the face of world events. With this bulletproof recipe, you can set the tone and be the best version of yourself all day long, no matter what situation you find yourself in."

Sharon Melnick (Author), Diana Gardiner (Narrator)

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In the Field of Grace

"Two women. All alone. With no provision . . . Can they find hope in a foreign land? Experience the true story of Ruth through the captivating historical fiction of Tessa Afshar 'I was hooked from the first page. This is an amazing book. The biblical story came alive as the love of Ruth and Boaz unfolded. I devoured the book, reading late into the night.' -Debbie Macomber Ruth leaves her home with a barren womb and an empty future after losing her husband. She forsakes her abusive parents and follows the woman she has grown to love as a true parent, her late husband's mother, Naomi. Ruth arrives in Israel with nothing to recommend her but Naomi's love. She is destitute, grief-stricken, and unwanted by the people of God. But God has great plans for her. While everyone considers Ruth an unworthy outsider, she is shocked to find the owner of the field—one of the wealthiest and most honored men of Judah—is showing her favor. Long since a widower and determined to stay that way, Boaz finds himself irresistibly drawn to the foreign woman with the dark, haunted eyes. He tells himself he is only being kind to his cousin Naomi's chosen daughter when he goes out of his way to protect her from harm, but his heart knows better. Obstacles. Heartache. Withered dreams. How can God forge love, passion, and new hope between two such different people?"

Tessa Afshar (Author), Diana Gardiner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Harvest of Rubies: (Book 1)

"Remarkable talent Threatens to cloud a life Immerse yourself in this captivating tale of historical fiction during the time of Nehemiah The prophet Nehemiah's cousin can speak numerous languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve great mysteries. There is only one problem: she's a woman in a man's court. In her early childhood years, Sarah experienced the death of her mother and her father's subsequent emotional distance, and she came to two conclusions: God does not care about me, and my accomplishments are the measure of my worth. Catapulted into the center of the Persian court, Sarah is working too many hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and solving intrigues for the Queen. Ironically, it isn't failure—but success—that causes Sarah to lose her only source of external validation. Sarah soon learns that she has something of worth to offer beyond her ability with languages and sums; her very being proves to be a blessing to others, particularly the aristocrat Darius, whom she is given to in marriage. Sarah and Darius' story continues in Harvest of Gold. Darius may be able to learn to love his wife, but can he ever learn to trust Sarah and her Lord?"

Tessa Afshar (Author), Diana Gardiner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Harvest of Gold: (Book 2)

"A hidden message, treachery, opposition, and a God-given success will lead to an unlikely bounty. Immerse yourself in this captivating tale of historical fiction during the time of Nehemiah In Harvest of Gold (Book 2), the scribe Sarah married Darius, and at times she feels as if she has married the Persian aristocracy, too. There is another point she did not count on in her marriage—Sarah has grown to love her husband. Sarah has wealth, property, honor, and power, but her husband’s love still seems unattainable. Although his mother was an Israelite, Darius remains skeptical that his Jewish wife is the right choice for him, particularly when she conspires with her cousin Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Ordered to assist in the effort, the couple begins a journey to the homeland of his mother’s people. Will the road filled with danger, conflict, and surprising memories, help Darius to see the hand of God at work in his life—and even in his marriage?"

Tessa Afshar (Author), Diana Gardiner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Bundle: The Perfect Deceit (#14) and The Perfect Mistress (#15)

"A bundle of books #14 (THE PERFECT DECEIT) and #15 (THE PERFECT MISTRESS) in Blake Pierce’s Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Mystery series! This bundle offers books fourteen and fifteen in one convenient file. In THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14), when a string of newly-married couples are found murdered in high-end suburbs, Jessie is called in to find the connection between them. Her investigation brings her into the world of exclusive weddings, and a sprawling list of potential suspects. Only one thing is certain: it is a life-and-death race before the killer strikes again. In THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15), when wealthy suburban women are found murdered in their small town without rhyme or reason, Jessie soon realizes she is up against no ordinary killer. He is an unpredictable psychopath, beyond anyone she’s ever been up against—and she will have to enter the dark canals of his twisted mind if she has any chance of saving the next woman on his list. A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT suspense series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Books #16-19 are also available!"

Blake Pierce (Author), Diana Gardiner, Ulka Mohanty (Narrator)

Audiobook

Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Bundle: The Perfect Impression (#13) and The Perfect Deceit (#14)

"A bundle of books #13 (THE PERFECT IMPRESSION) and #14 (THE PERFECT DECEIT) in Blake Pierce’s Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Mystery series! This bundle offers books thirteen and fourteen in one convenient file. In THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13), when a group of couple friends leave their suburban lives to go away together on a vacation to an exclusive resort, their partying gets out of control—and someone ends up dead. As Jessie digs deep into their lives and begins to unearth their secrets, she quickly realizes that their perfect lives are not what they seem—and that a murderer may be amongst them. In THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14), when a string of newly-married couples are found murdered in high-end suburbs, Jessie is called in to find the connection between them. Her investigation brings her into the world of exclusive weddings, and a sprawling list of potential suspects. Only one thing is certain: it is a life-and-death race before the killer strikes again. A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT suspense series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Books #14-19 are also available!"

Blake Pierce (Author), Diana Gardiner, Ulka Mohanty (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Diana Gardiner

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