But soon their desire-for one another, for the selves they want to become through the other-takes a violent turn that neither of them expected.Ī dark romance exposing the gaps in American identity politics, especially when exported overseas, If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English is at once ravishing and wry, scathing and tender. She is a nostalgic daughter of immigrants “returning” to a country she’s never been to before, teaching English and living in a light-filled flat with balconies on all sides. He was a photographer of the revolution, but now finds himself unemployed and addicted to cocaine, living in a rooftop shack. In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, an Egyptian American woman and a man from the village of Shobrakheit meet at a café in Cairo. Winner of the Graywolf Press African Fiction Prize, a lush experimental novel about love as a weapon of empire. Shortlisted for the 2023 PEN/Jean Stein Book Award Shortlisted for the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize And if that doesn't work, then he'll poke, prod and bedevil a beauty, until Berry Malone is willing to commit herself to him heart and soul.Winner of the 2022 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize All Ramsey knows is that he wants Berry Malone in his life and he'll do whatever it takes to keep her there, even if that means taking a leap of faith and believing that magic is real. She's too smart to fall for another lying, no-good - can't be trusted - man. As they grow closer, Berry remains wary, resolved to keep Hotshot Hughes at arm's length. Although she seems to be under the misapprehension that he's some sort of smooth talking, playboy flirt.With bullets flying and danger stalking them, the two must unite to survive.

Damn, he loves to see her eyes spark with fire.

Except the place is weird, and the inhabitants, even stranger. If that means temporarily filling in as the Southern Sanctuary Chief of Police, so be it.

So what if the man sends her hormones into a tizzy, Berry is determined not to be led astray by her untrustworthy instincts or magic ever again.Ramsey Hughes is desperate to be declared mentally fit enough to return to his job as an undercover cop. A man too irritating for words, with all his heated looks, intentional looming and flirtatious comments. Plans that include shredding every article of clothing she owns and throwing her into the company of the new Chief of Police as often as possible. Regain her self-confidence as a single, empowered - sworn off men for life - woman.Unfortunately, her interfering extended magical family, along with the local devious cats, have other plans for her. Returning home to the Southern Sanctuary to take on the role of local magistrate sounds like the perfect solution to her problems. Berry Malone's life was currently ranking a D minus.

To Bedevil A Beauty by Jane Cousins