From the acclaimed author of Mercy House comes a gripping novel about a young woman's dreams of being an Olympic gymnast—and the dark history that one has to keep secret on the road to the top.

It started as something to do after school and grew into an obsession. For Sera Anderson, the Olympics is the reason for everything: it's why she trains thirty hours a week, starves herself to under 100 pounds, and pops Advil like Tic Tacs.

For her mother, it's a means to achieve the glory she never had. It's why she rises before dawn to drive Sera to practice. And why the family scrimps, saves, and fractures.

It's why, when her best friend and fellow elite gymnast reports their doctor to the authority who selects the Olympic Team, Sera denies all that she knows about his treatments.

Their friendship shatters. But Sera protected her dream—didn't she?

Sera doubles down, enlisting an abusive coach, numbing torn...]]> Fri, 24 Sep 2021 23:25:11 +0300 https://cultural.library.land/alena-dillon/621799-eyes_turned_skyward.html https://cultural.library.land/alena-dillon/621799-eyes_turned_skyward.html

"Eyes Turned Skyward is a powerful examination of the cost—emotional, familial, generational—when women are denied their right to soar... Alena Dillon's poetic prose and complex characters will linger long after the last page is turned!" — Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author

From the author of Mercy House and The Happiest Girl in the World comes a brilliant, dual timeline novel about a daughter discovering her mother's past as a female pilot during World War II and the consequences of women's contributions remaining unrecognized.

Kathy Begley is an empty nester, the primary caretaker of her ailing mother, and the emotional support for her laid-off husband. She's also returning to the office after two decades to work under a borderline inappropriate boss. Then a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony invitation arrives, and she uncovers an unfathomable family secret: her mother, Peggy Mayfield, wasn't just a...]]> Mon, 31 Oct 2022 18:45:28 +0200 https://cultural.library.land/alena-dillon/536684-mercy_house.html https://cultural.library.land/alena-dillon/536684-mercy_house.html

"Never underestimate the power of a group of women. Fierce, thoughtful and dramatic—this is a story of true courage." —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author

She would stop at nothing to protect the women under her care.

Inside a century-old row house in Brooklyn, renegade Sister Evelyn and her fellow nuns preside over a safe haven for the abused and abandoned. Gruff and indomitable on the surface, warm and wry underneath, little daunts Evelyn, until she receives word that Mercy House will be investigated by Bishop Hawkins, a man with whom she shares a dark history. In order to protect everything they've built, the nuns must conceal many of their methods, which are forbidden by the Catholic Church.

Evelyn will go to great lengths to defend all that she loves. She confronts a gang member, defies the church, challenges her own beliefs, and faces her past. She is bolstered by the other nuns and the vibrant, diverse residents...]]> Wed, 03 Apr 2019 12:40:02 +0300