Short,
Simple
English
Books
Going Down on One Knee
A Fun, Easy-to-Read Romance for Beginner English Readers
Looking for a fun romance that will make you laugh? This simplified version of the full-length novel is packed with humor, love, and excitement. You'll enjoy every page of this lighthearted, funny, and romantic adventure designed especially for those new to the English language.
The Blue Castle
“I’ve never had a real life. I’ve just breathed in and out.”
Valancy Stirling wakes up on her 29th birthday feeling as gray as the sky outside. She’s given up on love. She’s given up on hope. She’s given up on herself, until . . . shocking news forces her to take charge of her life. The Blue Castle follows Valancy's journey to love, hope, and most importantly, her true self. What you discover about yourself along the way may surprise you!
29歳の誕生日の朝を迎えたヴァレンシー・スターリング。 だが彼女の心はその日の天気と同様、灰色の雲が垂れ込めていた。彼女は恋愛をあきらめ、夢をあきらめ、何より自分自身をあきらめていた。飛び込んできた驚くべきニュースが彼女を奮い立たせ、ふたたび人生を生き始めるまでは。“青い城”は、愛と希望、そして”真の自分自身であること”を追い求めるヴァレンシーの心の旅を描いた物語だ。読者は彼女と共に旅し、やがて自分の中に驚くべきものを見いだすだろう。
More KISS Books
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
“Best Ever Crime Novel” -Crime Writers Association 2013
One of Agatha Christie’s best mysteries, this book is a good introduction to Hercule Poirot, who comes out of semi-retirement to solve a perplexing murder. Set in one of those quiet English villages that sees far too many murders at Christie’s pen, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a classic with a plot twist that will have you guessing until the very last page.
Silent Spring
“One of the 25 greatest science books of all time.” -Discover magazine, 2006
Rachel Carson started ringing the alarm about the destruction of the natural world in 1962 when her research was serialized in The New Yorker magazine. Silent Spring was published the same year and is said to have launched the environmental movement.
The dense original has been made accessible for anyone who wants a better understanding of the environmental catastrophe that Carson exposed.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
“One of the Best 100 English Novels since 1923” -Time magazine, 2005
The first story in the seven-part series introduces the reader to the magical world of Narnia.
When young Lucy discovers Narnia in the back of an old wardrobe, her three siblings follow and grand adventures begin. Though written in a way children can enjoy, the book has deeper themes like good vs. evil and life after death.
This short, simple retelling keeps all the action and spirit of the characters, both human and non-human.
About Raina and KISS Books
Keepin' It Short and Simple (KISS) Books was born in the steamy Yokohama summer of 2023. After hip surgery and a few months of physical therapy, I was feeling at loose ends. I had already written three simplified books for IBC Publishing in Tokyo, but it wasn't enough. So, I got in touch with the hilarious and delightful Christina Hovland (@hovlandwrites) and simplified one of her best-sellers, Going Down on One Knee.
Then I read the sweet and powerful story by Lucy Maud Montgomery, which became, after some bumps and shakes, my first self-published book, Valency's Blue Castle.
Future KISS books include three short stories in one volume, based on exciting Golden Age mysteries by Patricia Wentworth. Also, my reimagining of the classic adventure, The Scarlet Pimpernel, told from "Mrs. Pimpernel's" perspective.
