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As a former smokejumper, arson investigator Bri Tucker knows her way around fires. But after a mysterious blaze takes the life of a former colleague, Bri inherits a curious puzzle from him that raises questions about several fiery deaths. Someone, however, doesn't want her picking up where he left off in search of answers.

When she teams up with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to solve the puzzle, the danger escalates. But will they manage to track down the person behind the mysterious deaths before their budding romance—and maybe even their lives—go up in flames?

The bestselling and award-winning queen of romantic suspense is back with a brand-new series that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you burn through the pages to discover the truth.

A delightful introduction and collection of facts about the secret lives of gnomes that will charm and fascinate readers of all ages.

This book is an introduction to the hidden folk called gnomes, who live in a happy place they call The Pocket. Where is The Pocket, you ask?

Well, it's all around you, all the time.

Gnomes are curious little creatures, and they're very shy. But after reading this book, you will learn to spot the telltale signs that gnomes are around... and maybe even meet one!

Lauren Soloy has been studying gnomes her whole life, and she has created this book to share her knowledge with you. For example, what jobs do gnomes do? Babysitting robin's eggs, squirrel-tail fluffing, storytelling. Where do they live? In gardens, forests and any place with plants, birds and bugs. What are their names? Hotchi-Mossy, Able Potter, Cob Tiggy and Puckle Swift, to name a few.

With charming details and surprising facts, this celebration of all things gnome will enchant readers of all ages.

Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She's been working hard to put herself through law school and now that the end is in sight, she's determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she has been found through a DNA registry to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the ruler of a small Eastern European principality called Montovia. She's understandably skeptical. This is the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king's invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament—and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.

Spend this Christmas with bestselling author Melody Carlson as she whisks you away to a royal holiday you'll never forget!

Find out what children eat all around the world in this beautifully illustrated book, written by bestselling poet and author Laura Mucha, alongside trained chef and food writer Ed Smith.

From biltong to biryani, papaya to passionfruit, and ramen to roti, there are so many different dishes and delicacies all around the world. In this fascinating book, young children can learn all about what people in other countries eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as where our food comes from, and the stories, cultures, and traditions behind what we eat.

A unique, warm-hearted book that will teach children understanding, empathy, and respect, and inspire a love of food and flavor. With engaging, colorful artwork on every page by award-winning illustrator Harriet Lynas.

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can't help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition—that he help her track down her friend's killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they'll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They'll have to learn to trust one another—and face the dark secrets of the past—if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

A heart-warming picture book about the love between grandmothers and grandchildren, featuring a shimmering silver foil cover!

For one little panda cub, days spent with Grandma are always the best days of all. From chewing on bamboo and playing in the grass, to sheltering from a snowstorm and snuggling up in a tree as night falls, Grandma is there to share, play, help, and cuddle.

With a beautifully reassuring, rhyming text by debut author Susannah Shane and stunning artwork by award-winning and internationally bestselling illustrator Britta Teckentrup, this picture book is the perfect gift for children and their grandmas, and will soon become a bedtime favorite.

Join the monarchs as they embark on a transcontinental journey home in this moving story about migration.

As the sun dawns in Canada, a flutter of monarch butterflies take flight, ready to begin their months-long journey to their ancestral home in Mexico. The migration will not be easy, but it is necessary for the next generation of monarchs to be born. Brought to life with illustrations as vivid as the monarch's iconic orange and black hues, this story invites young readers to experience the monarch's migration from the butterflies' point of view as they search for food, huddle together through storms, and tirelessly fly south.

Parents and educators alike will find much to love about this poetically written book. The story touches on how climate change and deforestation are impacting monarchs, and kid-friendly back matter provides additional information about the butterflies, including their life cycle, anatomy, and migratory patterns, as well as several simple ways children can help monarch butterflies themselves.

Immerse yourself in a world reminiscent of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale with this gorgeously illustrated story about a reclusive fox, a mysterious tree, and the life-giving power of friendship.

BrindleFox refuses to be a friend, so he has no friends. He never lets anyone into his home, so he doesn't bother to clean it. Moss and ivy weave through his furniture, and weeds and grasses grow on his floors and in his drawers. One morning, he discovers something unexpected--a tree has begun sprouting from his back. Unphased by this development, he continues on with his life, and the tree continues to grow. One day, a strange heron appears in his tree. Furious, BrindleFox attempts to drive the intruder away and finds himself stunned by something he doesn't understand--a selfless act of kindness from a fearless new friend. 

Brilliantly illustrated, BrindleFox touches on themes of sadness, loneliness, self-care, and the redeeming power of friendship in simple ways that children will intuitively understand. Little ones will be welcomed into a world brimming with hidden wonders and memorable characters that they will want to revisit time and time again.

Life-affirming and lyrical, this beautiful picture book celebrates the awesome power of nature and the circle of life.

Over the course of a year, a young child and their dog watch kingfishers by the river with Grandpa. As spring turns to summer and autumn to winter, the kingfishers raise a family, while Grandpa teaches his grandchild about the power of nature and the circle of life.

Written in memory of her father, whose favorite bird was the kingfisher, Anna Wilson takes readers on a lyrical journey though a year in the life of a kingfisher family. Stunning illustrations by Sarah Massini bring the riverbank to life in all its glory, while the powerful, intergenerational bond between grandparent and grandchild shows that just as spring always follows winter, hope will always return if you know where to look for it.

A positive story about life, death, and being a part of the natural world.

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Narwhal and Jelly become the coolest teachers in the world wide waters in the hilarious sixth book of this blockbuster graphic novel series!

Dive into four new stories about Narwhal and Jelly becoming substitute teachers! The two best friends come across an enthusiastic school of fish one morning. Unfortunately, Mr. Blowfish, their teacher, has come down with a cold, and class will have to be cancelled... until Professor Knowell (Narwhal) and Super Teacher (Jelly) volunteer to help out! The first subject is Wafflematics, in which Narwhal and Jelly calculate the number of waffles needed to feed the class. That's what we're chalking about! Next up is a super-fun science scavenger hunt, followed by a game of "Tag! You're Awesome!" at recess.

Narwhal's teaching methods may be unconventional, but with Jelly's help, the two teach (and learn) with their trademark positivity and humor. Before they know it, the day is over... but what grade will Narwhal receive from Jelly?

From beloved Russian children’s author Anna Anisimova comes a heartwarming, beautifully illustrated chapter book about a blind girl who joyfully explores her environment using her senses and vivid imagination, inviting young readers to understand their surroundings in new ways.

For the young, blind heroine of The Invisible Elephant, the world is a thrilling place full of sounds, smells, and sensations. She encounters her surroundings with joy and an impressively creative imagination. In four charming stories, we accompany her to the zoo, the museum, an art class, and get a peek into her wonderfully magical mind, a place where it’s only natural that her grandfather's walking stick transforms into a horse and a sled becomes a whale. When the time comes for her to learn braille, we watch her family and friends cheer her on as she discovers how to navigate the world in her own way.

With gorgeous, inventive illustrations by Yulia Sidneva and artfully translated by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp, The Invisible Elephant is a playful, engaging book that helps kids value all the different ways of seeing the world.

A little girl dreams of adventures in the water and feels the spirit of the ocean all around her... even though she lives on the prairie, with flat land as far as the eye can see.

But she won't let a little detail like that stand in the way of being a meadow mermaid! Frolicking in the 'waves' of wheat and 'oceans' of grass, spying sea horses and... a shipwrecked sailor?

Even if that shipwreck is actually an overturned bike and the sailor a new kid from a neighbouring field, it's still a chance to make a new friend, one with an imagination as expansive and a love of the ocean as deep as the little girl's own.

This fanciful, whimsical picture book will charm young mermaids and little pirates everywhere, and inspire them to embrace the spirit of the ocean in the things around them, no matter where they live!

The only thing that spreads faster than gossip in Palm Beach is news of a mysterious death.

Maribelle, the eldest of the three Barrows sisters, deserves to be envied. Not only for her plum position as editorial director of Palm Beach Confidential, but for her impressive husband, Samuel, and his involvement in the family business. Together, they present themselves as the “it” couple of Palm Beach. She might have even aced her two stunning younger sisters.

But things aren’t always what they seem. When Samuel unexpectedly dies, suspicion around the Barrows family swirls. Suddenly the authenticity of their socially ambitious mother, Lucinda, and their lavish existence of mansions, prestige, privilege and couture clothes are in question.

As their carefully constructed image unravels, each sister realizes she must fend for herself. Yet the pathway out is steep, and Samuel’s death casts a long shadow. Until the price of escape is too dear and worth any risk. Until the winner takes all.

A compelling tale of betrayal and lies, Maribelle’s Shadow is a memorable novel about what lurks beneath family loyalty.

In Bald Eagles, Bear Cubs, and Hermits: Memoirs of a Wildlife Biologist, Ron shares his stories of growing up in rural Maine, working as a wildlife biologist, and meeting Mainers like retired dairy farmers Ruth and Martin French of Dover-Foxcroft, who repurposed their barn's empty cow stalls into a wildlife rehabilitation center. The couple specialized in rescuing orphaned bear cubs, providing solitary cubs with teddy bears as temporary surrogate litter mates while biologists scrambled to find sow bears willing to adopt the orphans.

The book includes humorous stories, such as one about the time he had to count piles of deer dung on designated mile-long lines and encountered a woman who bluntly asked, "So you went to college for that?" Other stories border on the absurd, including one of an influential legislator who pressured Ron to spray concentrated wolf urine on 30 miles of Route 201 in a harebrained waste of taxpayer money to supposedly reduce moose-vehicle collisions. Many of the book's stories have previously been published in Down East, Maine Boats Homes and Harbors, Bangor Daily News, Moosehead Messenger, PenBay Pilot, and elsewhere.

A fabulous debut of folk tales and fantasies by an award winning author and illustrator.

Small fires start in the hearts of Kathleen Jennings's characters and irresistibly spread to those around them. Journeys are taken, debts repaid, disguises put on, and lessons offered - although not often learned - in these fantastic tales. Jennings's confident voice lulls readers into stepping off the known paths to find Undine Love,' 'The Heart of Owl Abbas,' and further unexpected places and people.

Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school.

Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical first kiss and landing a spot in the school play. Within the halls of Holy Trinity High, she finds a world where things are no longer black and white and quickly learns that living in color is much more fun.

But Jessie gets more than she bargained for when two very different boys steal her heart, forcing her to go off-script.

A surprising and exciting new collection of speculative and experimental stories that explore animal intelligences, gender, and the nature of stories.

The Privilege of the Happy Ending collects award-winning writer Kij Johnson's speculative fiction from the last decade. The stories explore gender, animals, and the nature of stories, and range in form from classically told tales to deeply experimental works. The collection includes the World Fantasy Award-winning 'The Privilege of the Happy Ending' and 'The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe,' as well as two never-before published works.

A relatable early reader that taps into important life lessons about friendship, grief, and talking through feelings.

Eleven-year-old Amelia has always had Calvin to talk to, but Amelia has no idea where he is. Calvin is a twenty-one-year-old chinchilla and has always been there for Amelia whenever she needed to talk about her problems—but he is no longer in his cage, and her parents just say he's in a "better place." Everything seems to go wrong now that she and her best friend Camilla have had an argument, and Amelia has missed the school talent show. Without Calvin, who does she talk to about her disappointments at school? Without Calvin, who does Amelia talk to about missing Calvin? She vows to become like the sugar apples in her backyard, rich on the inside and always hard to find.

And just when Amelia thinks there's nobody she can talk to, a new student, Iris, arrives. Amelia learns that it's always possible to meet new friends that can teach you that expressing oneself can happen in different ways, but it always starts with talking it out.

It's a “fiercely intelligent, introspective and laugh-out-loud funny” (Tara Lewis, 24 year veteran publishing executive) contemporary coming-of-age story narrated by Gwen Pendergrass, a quirky teenage girl who infuses it with sarcasm, hyperbole, and wild flights of fancy—including a paleolithic “Shark Tank” for the builders of Stonehenge—all as she tries to make sense of her life with a single mom who’s working two soul-crushing jobs, dysfunctional high school teachers, and her unruly emotions with a mind of their own.

When her mom tells her she's turning down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get her life back on track, all because they can't afford it, Gwen cannot, will not, let this happen, no matter the cost. She ropes her best friend, Peter, into her Hail Mary of an idea: find the dad she's never met, undeterred by knowing utterly nothing about him—not even his name!—and only having a strip of photographs of him and her mom, taken in a photo booth somewhere in Las Vegas the weekend of her conception, some sixteen years (and nine-months) earlier.

And while she receives surprising help from unexpected allies, before she knows it, her white lies, scheming, and emotional roller coaster start to make a mess of everything, and it quickly becomes a race to find her dad before her mom catches on, her head explodes, or it all spirals completely out of control.

Mean Girls meets Scream in this heart-pounding psychological thriller about a group of friends stranded on an island with a serial killer on the loose.

Riley March and her friends are headed to ritzy, remote Palm Key Island for one last blow-out party weekend before college. It's the vacation of a lifetime: beautiful beaches, epic nightlife, and hot guys like Riley's crush-superstar soccer player Sebastian Ramos. There's just one catch. Everyone on this trip is hiding something. Riley is hiding her past in order to fit in. Sebastian is hiding his feelings for Riley. And someone is hiding what really happened to Jordyn Chang, a classmate that mysteriously died last summer.

Things take a dark turn after one of their friends goes missing, and a hurricane cuts the group off from civilization. Trapped inside their rental house, a killer stalks them one by one. No one is safe. Everyone's a suspect. As the body count rises, Riley and her friends will have to confront the secrets they've been keeping if they want to stay alive...

Bestselling, award-winning author Rektok Ross returns with this riveting beach read perfect for fans of:

• Unputdownable and fast-paced thrillers, murder mystery books, and suspense romance fiction
• Summer books and vacation reads
• Stories that make you think like Reese Witherspoon book club books
• Colleen Hoover meets Pretty Little Liars
• Bingeworthy TikTok books
• Natasha Preston, Lucy Foley, Holly Jackson, James Patterson, and Frieda McFadden novels

Saying goodbye to a pet is hard for everyone, especially children.

In this thoughtful picture book, a young girl named Charlotte says goodbye to her dog, Bella, in the most loving way she can think of and cherishes the last few days with her beloved pet.

After Bella passes away, Charlotte and her family celebrate Bella’s life and do activities to honor and remember their sweet Bella.

Esme always has a plan. A funny and sweet early illustrated chapter book about a problem-solving girl who has to manage her own birthday bash. For fans of Dory Fantasmagory.

Esme lives with her grandparents on the uppermost floor of the topmost best building. It's her birthday. Mimi and Pipo gave her a beautiful guitar. But they didn't plan a birthday party.

Esme thinks this is the way with grandparents. They don't know about parties or piñatas or birthday cake. No problem! Esme is great at problem solving.

With the help of her cat, El Toro, and a LOT of help from her neighbors in the topmost best building, the irrepressible Esme gets the birthday party of her dreams.

A naïve teenager is thrown into the high-stakes, back-stabbing world of reality television in this gossipy, satirical romp, perfect for fans of reality TV.

After a disastrous date results in her arrest, sixteen-year-old Lily Rhode is horrified to discover her mugshot is leaked on a gossip website. Lily is the niece of Whitney Paley, a Hollywood housewife and star of reality show Platinum Triangle, a soap-opera-style docu-series in the vein of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Hills, revolving around several glamorous families living in the Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Holmby Hills neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

When Lily's mom kicks her out of their trailer home in the Valley, Whitney (Lily's mom's estranged sister) invites her to live with her, her movie-star husband, Patrick, and their daughter, Hailey. Lily is set up in the pool house and thrust into the company of reality-star offspring—kids who are born with silver spoon emojis on their feed. Lily's cousin Hailey and the other teens have lived their entire lives on camera and are masters of deception, with Hailey leading the pack.

As Lily learns from the Paleys how to navigate her newfound fame, she finds herself ensnared in the unfolding storylines. What Lily doesn't know is that she's just a pawn being used on the show to make the Paleys look sympathetic to viewers while distracting from on-set sexual misconduct rumors surrounding super hero dad Patrick Paley...

Is Lily safe under Patrick's roof? Or will Lily be Patrick's downfall? If she isn't destroyed by Hailey first. When Lily catches the eye of Hailey's designated leading man Joel Strom—it's war!

Buddy, a boy who lives in the city, can't wait to visit his Uncle Frank, who lives in the countryside.

Chicken coop and farm animals... there's never a dull moment when hanging out on a farm. When Buddy's dad drops him off at Uncle Frank's, he gives Buddy his allowance. Buddy can spend the money on anything he wants! This will be the best week ever!

How will Buddy choose to spend his allowance? Find out through this heartfelt story that illustrates the concept of bucket filling (co-authored by Carol McCloud, the author of the Bucket Filler series of books) - acts of kindness that increases happiness for all.

Women were there. For centuries, discussions of early Christianity have focused on male leaders in the church. But there is ample evidence right in the New Testament that women were actively involved in ministry, at the frontier of the gospel mission, and as respected leaders.

Nijay Gupta calls us to bring these women out of the shadows by shining light on their many inspiring contributions to the planting, growth, and health of the first Christian churches. He sets the context by exploring the lives of first-century women and addressing common misconceptions, then focuses on the women leaders of the early churches as revealed in Paul's writings. We discover the major roles of people such as:

• Phoebe, Paul's trusted coworker
• Prisca, strategic leader and expert teacher
• Junia, courageous apostle
• Nympha, representative of countless lesser-known figures

When we understand the world in which Jesus and his followers lived and what the New Testament actually attests about women in the churches, it becomes clear that women were active participants and trusted leaders all along. They were welcomed by Paul and other apostles, were equipped and trained for ministry leadership, instructed others, traveled long distances, were imprisoned--and once in a while became heroes and giants.

The New Testament writers tell their stories. It's time for the church to retell them, again and again.

Sometimes losing something can change the way you see everything.

From the author of The Qualities of Wood, Bellflower, and Starling comes Mary Vensel White's first novel for young adults, a journey of a lifetime where adventure meets self-discovery.

Tuesday Mayes has always felt like she was meant for more than the desert she's lived in her whole life. With the summer after high school graduation upon her, she is eager to start a new chapter despite a recent health diagnosis. But when her father goes missing, she must confront a reality she's not ready to face.

Enter Cristian Robles, childhood friend and long-time crush. When he offers to accompany her on a journey across Arizona to find her father—if they visit supernatural locations from his Weird Arizona guidebook along the way—Tuesday sees it as chance to finally have an adventure. As they embark on a road trip filled with discoveries and surprises, she begins to uncover the truth about family secrets and her special abilities. Along the way, she finds herself falling for Cristian and realizing that sometimes losing something can change the way you see everything.

With a mix of adventure, romance, and self-discovery, this is a story about growing up, facing fears, and discovering the strength within. On this journey of a lifetime, will Tuesday discover who she truly is and what she truly wants?

How do you survive the worst thing that can ever happen?

When thirteen-year-old Katie McCabe' s dad gets sick and is hospitalized, she' s sent to live with her uncle in a strange town. But within days of arriving, her dad unexpectedly dies.

Struggling with her new reality, Katie is lost. She doesn't fit in at her new home and never will.

It only gets worse when Katie starts her freshman year of high school and begins to have run-ins with the son of the man who owns the town—a powerful man with ties to her family’s past.

Then one day, she is attacked from behind. Blindfolded and slung across the back of a horse, Katie is taken up into the hills. Dumped in the middle of the wilderness in an oncoming storm, she is left to find her way home. But how will she survive?

Jensen Beach, Florida is a quaint coastal town once revered as the "land that time forgot." The place where big city dwellers come for vacation. It was once known for its beautiful sandy beaches, breezy ocean air, pleasant year-round weather, frilly cocktails, hometown boutique shops and restaurants, and ocean activities.The town is also home to some unsavory characters and its many hidden skeletons-literally.

When Aunt Adeline goes missing, it is up to her niece, Charlotte, to uncover the clues of her deeply hidden family secrets and the town she calls home. Enjoy the dual narrative from both Aunt Adeline's and Charlotte's point of view. Discover secrets the She Shed holds, the importance of friendship, and the true meaning of family.

"If I do not write, who will? What I am living with here does not allow me to wait until others fully wake up to the serious harm prisons cause."

Falsely convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, Lacino Hamilton sent thousands of letters during his incarceration. After twenty-six years, including eleven years in solitary confinement, and a years-long campaign of public and political pressure, Hamilton was exonerated and released on September 30, 2020. The letters he wrote during his incarceration, advocating for his innocence--literally writing for his life--made him a leading voice on issues of abolition, imprisonment, and justice. Despite fierce resistance and retaliation from prison officials, he maintained correspondence with family and friends, as well as university professors and activists.

Tireless, empathetic, and unflinching, Hamilton's voice throughout these letters shines with immediacy. We must engage all people in recognizing the terrible costs of maintaining the US system of justice, he writes. In his passionate critiques of the prison-industrial complex, his emotional appeals to friends and family, and his fierce and unflagging defense of his own innocence, Hamilton exposes the oppressive, humiliating, and destructive reality of our justice system. From divestment in cities and policing policies to the everyday violence of imprisonment and its attempts to obliterate personhood in favor of obedience, these letters offer an incisive critique of our criminal justice system. We also feel Hamilton's deep generosity of spirit as he counsels others affected by this terrible system and lauds the work of those working on the outside for reform. With his voice, we sense something unexpected and profound: hope for a reimagining of our systems--a humanity-affirming model of justice.

From the author of the Batchelder Award-winning novel Temple Alley Summer comes The House of the Lost on the Cape, the moving story of three generations of women adapting to their new home, and its mythical inhabitants, in the tragic aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.

In the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami, Yui, fleeing her violent husband, and Hiyori, a young orphan, are taken in by a strange but kindly elder named Kiwa in the small town of Kitsunezaki. The newly formed family finds refuge in a mayoiga, a lost house, perched atop a beautiful cape overlooking the sea. While helping to rebuild Kitsunezaki, the three adapt to their new lives and supernatural new home, slowly healing from the past. Kiwa regales Yui and Hiyori with local legends—from the shapeshifting fox-woman who used to roam the mountains to the demon Agamé to a sea snake who once terrorized the townspeople, preying upon their grief and fears until they trapped the snake and the demon’s claws in an underwater cave.

But when mysterious and sinister events start happening around town, the three fear the worst. Did the earthquake release Agamé and the sea snake into the world again? Kiwa, Yui, and Hiyori join forces with a merry band of kappa river spirits, a bold zashiki warashi house spirit, and flying Jizō guardian statues to save their new family and home and banish Agamé and the snake once and for all. Now a hit anime film, The House of the Lost on the Cape is a heartwarming tale about recovery, family, and friendship in the face of natural and mythical forces.

Embark on a writer’s personal garden journey! Liza Ketchum’s story begins and ends in Vermont, with settings as varied as the Adirondacks, a New York suburb, an urban yard, coastal Florida, and Oxfordshire, England.

With detailed, monochrome drawings by botanical illustrator Bobbi Angell, The Last Garden describes the practical aspects of gardening as we face the perils of climate change, food scarcity, and pollinator decline.

This memoir also profiles the gardeners whose techniques and wisdom influenced and helped shape the gardens Ketchum created. She shares the myriad ways that gardens have provided beauty, comfort, healing, and inspiration during periods of change, loss, and renewal. She also offers inspiration for readers to create their own gardens, whether on a city balcony, a suburban yard, or a larger country plot.

Disagreement is a visual narrative of an argument that devolves out of control, culminating in a shouting match where the only effort being made is to be the loudest. The polarization of opinions and lack of effort to compromise or reach common ground, inspired by recent political events across the globe, consumes those involved. They eventually escape the chaos through creativity and humanism, which ultimately leads to the path of understanding. This book artfully illustrates the toll of conflict and the magic that can occur when one takes a step back from the noise.

About the Publisher
Tapioca Stories, a New York-based publishing house with Latin American soul, introduces young English readers to the finest Latin American children's books, originally written in Spanish and Portuguese.

“The Persistent Road will draw you in and keep you turning the pages. It's a book I'll read again and again.” —PATRICIA BRADLEY, Author of Counter Attack

“If you enjoy engaging, faith-based stories that take you on a journey, this book is a good choice.” —KATIE POWNER, Author of Where the Blue Sky Begins

After losing all he once cherished, Doug Zimmer follows his wife's parting bread crumbs and rides up the Pacific coast—on a bicycle. Armed with a revolver and only a vague plan to get through the months ahead, he aims to end his depression one way or the other.

As spiritual forces wrangle for his soul, he pedals eastward across America. He meets Lauren Baumgartner—a younger adventurer with a vibrant spirit—and a band of zealots who confront his aversion to religion. Accompanying Doug are not only sunny days and the beauty of nature but also the perils of the road, fellow travelers with their own stories, and the hollow silence of solitary campsites playing host to unseen creatures of the night.

A jarring episode on a climb through a treacherous pass brings Doug face-to-face with life and death. Will Doug's adventure deliver him from loneliness and lament . . . or hurtle him to an abrupt end?

“A beautifully written story of tragedy and triumph. This is a journey well worth taking.” —ACE COLLINS, Christy Award-winning author of The Color of Justice

This easy-to-understand manual gives readers an overview of how and why penises work. Weaving together surprising insights and instructive illustrations about humans and other mammals, this frank and fun book is the ultimate guide to having a penis and keeping it healthy.

The P Word provides the tools kids need to recognize and name their body parts, understand when something might be wrong, and practice good hygiene. As an animal expert, Dr. Hu includes fascinating mammal facts and comparisons to help kids understand that the penis is a natural, normal, and wildly diverse body part.

Refreshingly gender-neutral and inclusive, The P Word is a resource that takes the stress away from parents needing to have all the answers, while openly addressing the curiosity of kids.

Ralph Waldo Emerson battles dementia while debating whether to intercede in a Black soldier’s unjust arrest

In 1879, toward the end of his life, the Sage of Concord has lost his words. Beset by aphasia and grief, Ralph Waldo Emerson is scarcely recognizable as America’s foremost essayist and orator. To the dismay of his wife, he frequently entertains the specters of his fellow transcendentalists, including Whitman, Thoreau, John Muir, and Margaret Fuller, and frets about the future of humankind and the natural world. Does the present displace the past? Do ideas always precede actions? What responsibility does each of us bear for the downtrodden, the preservation of liberty, and the Earth itself? These metaphysical concerns become concrete when Emerson meets a Black soldier accused of killing a white man who abused him. The soldier’s presence demands a response from Emerson, an action outside the parlors of philosophy and beyond the realm where language and logic hold sway.

The Ice Harp, the tenth stand-alone book in The American Novels series, is a poignant portrayal of a literary luminary coming to terms with the loss of memory, the cost of inaction, and the end of life.

“In The Ice Harp, Norman Lock deftly takes us into the polyphonic swirl of Emerson’s mind at the end of his life, inviting us to meet the man anew even as the philosopher fights to stop forgetting himself... [A] remarkably empathetic and deeply moral novel.” —Matt Bell, author of Appleseed

“Lock’s latest in his luminous American Novels series... provides countless memorable turns of phrase, and it is the rare paragraph that does not inspire underlining as Lock explores memory, mortality, and the passage of time.” —Booklist (starred review)

A lyrical memoir that begins in a quiet Vermont village with Marilyn’s memories of her parents, owners of a popular restaurant and lively night spot next to their home. While her mother disappears into addiction, Marilyn grapples with feelings of abandonment, though she recalls being uplifted by the village, by her dreams, and by the kindness of others.

In young adulthood, she lands on a beautiful estate known as Shelburne Farms, where she helps to launch valuable movements for the region: local food and farmers’ markets, outdoor childhood education, and the stewardship of natural resources. But her work is not without cost to her personal life. She discovers that her interest in protecting the outer world begins to heal her inner self. The two are deeply intertwined.

Attic of Dreams examines family dysfunction while humor counters tragedy, and forgiveness counters blame. Trust and love emerge as the journey home to wholeness continues.

A woman who is no more than a girl when her parents are murdered by the man she was promised to marry, hides amongst Humankind to save her sister. Knowing her betrothed has nearly found her years later, she must choose: run and hope she can hide once more, or stay and trust a stranger to protect her when she's at her weakest.

Charlotte grew up being in love with the man she was promised to marry. Aurek was a warrior, a Daeva Prince to equal her Daeva Princess, and meant to protect their people when they took the throne. Where she was spoiled and young, he was patient and understanding. When she had outbursts, he was there to sooth her naive woes. It was a perfect match, just like her parents intended.

Until he murdered them.

Hiding was something she never thought she would achieve. It was only a matter of time. But hours became days, and days became years. The thought of being found slipped away, becoming nothing but nightmares and memories. Her and her sister made a life in a world filled with technology, hiding amongst Humankind despite being nothing so simple. They were safe, and it was all that mattered.

Until he found them.

What do we do with a God who sanctions violence?

Old Testament violence proves one of the most troubling topics in the Bible. Too often, the explanations for the brutality in Scripture fail to adequately illustrate why God would sanction such horrors on humanity. These unanswered questions leave readers frustrated and confused, leading some to even walk away from their faith.

In Flood and Fury, Old Testament scholar Matthew Lynch approaches two of the most violent passages in the Old Testament - the Flood and the Canaanite conquest - and offers a way forward that doesn't require softening or ignoring the most troubling aspects of these stories. While acknowledging the persistent challenge of violence in Scripture, Flood and Fury contends that reading with the grain of the text yields surprising insights into the goodness and the mercy of God. Through his exploration of themes related to violence including misogyny, racism, and nationalism, Lynch shows that these violent stories illuminate significant theological insights that we might miss with a surface reading.

Flood and Fury challenges us to let go of the need to rescue the Old Testament from itself and listen afresh to its own critiques on violence.

Finding Joy Even When You Have to Fight for It

Do you feel like life's kind of kicking you around a bit? Do you feel yourself sinking, trying to get back to the surface but weighed down by regret, frustration, or grief? This book is for you. Or maybe life is great—the job, the kids, the house, the partner—but you want more. You know there is more joy, more abundance, more peace. This book is for you too!

Award-winning storyteller and former national sportscaster Rachel Joy Baribeau is the friendly hand reaching for you right now. She knows what those dark moments are like. And she knows the profound joy of healing and finding happiness again. With gut-level honesty, she shares her own story of changing the narrative of her life from stuck, overwhelmed, and anxious to confident in her identity and joyful in her life's purpose. Then she helps you do the same with your one precious life.

Inspired by Rachel's contagiously indomitable spirit, you'll be encouraged and equipped in your journey to finding joy, peace, and inspiration in your own new narrative. Because your story's not done yet—and the best parts are yet to come.

Sasson's new book is a retelling of the story of the women's request for ordination. Inspired in particular by the Therigatha and building on years of research and experience in the field, Sasson follows Vimala, Patachara, Bhadda Kundalakesa, and many others as they walk through the forest to request full access to the tradition.

The Buddha's response to this request is famously complicated and multi-faceted; he eventually accepts women into the Order, but attaches specific and controversial conditions (garudhammas). Sasson invites us to think about who these first Buddhist women might have been, what they hoped to achieve, and what these conditions might have meant to them thereafter.

By shaping her research into a story, Sasson invites readers to imagine a world that continues to inspire and complicate Buddhist narrative to this day.

From the Real Book Spy, Ryan Steck, comes another riveting Matthew Redd thriller.

On an island off the coast of Spain, Matthew Redd and his FBI fly team surveil a luxury villa in hopes of catching a high-value fugitive. But when Redd leads an unauthorized raid on the villa, he discovers they've been set up, and he is sent home to face the consequences of defying orders.Meanwhile, Redd's wife, Emily, is on a remote stretch of Montana road driving their sick baby to the doctor when she finds her SUV surrounded by a biker gang intent on harassing her. As the bikers pound her fenders and her infant son screams, Emily fights to keep the SUV on the road... and then suddenly the bikers back off, leaving her safe but shaken.

Redd returns home, suspended from his team and certain that he is to blame for Emily's harassment after his run-in with the local biker gang the year before. Fearing that there is more to come, he prepares to defend his family. But Redd soon learns the gang is stronger in numbers than he could've imagined, and there is more behind their vendetta than he could've guessed. As his son's condition worsens and his beloved ranch faces financial ruin, he finds himself fighting a war on multiple fronts--one he can't win on his own.

What Would You Do To Save Your Sibling?

As a child, Dylan Dubois had always enjoyed her mother’s magical tales of adventure and faraway places. But when a tragic fire claims her father’s life and lands her little sister in a coma, she wonders whether there might have been more to her late mother’s stories, after all.

Plagued by recurring nightmares, Dylan struggles to cope with her sister’s deteriorating condition, and with a number of perplexing discoveries she makes regarding her mother’s past. An ancient book she finds hidden amongst her mother’s belongings offers a clue, and a final avenue to her sister’s salvation. The cryptic symbols within hint at a legacy that has been passed down through her family for generations. One which might be capable of unimaginable healing.

Unable to solve the riddle alone, Dylan enlists the help of a handsome stranger, whose past also seems shrouded in secrets. Kit (as he calls himself) has a quick wit, sly smile and knowledge beyond his years. Though he may be her only hope at unraveling the mystery surrounding her family, Kit’s habit of disappearing whenever it suits him also leaves Dylan in doubt of his motives.

With her sister’s life hanging in the balance, Dylan has no choice but to trust her shifty new ally. Together, she and Kit must race to solve the puzzle of the ancient book, in order to unlock the power within, and save her sister before it’s too late.

Shareware Heroes is a comprehensive, meticulously researched exploration of an important and too-long overlooked chapter in video game history

Shareware Heroes: Independent Games at the Dawn of the Internet takes readers on a journey, from the beginnings of the shareware model in the early 1980s, the origins of the concept, even the name itself, and the rise of shareware's major players - the likes of id Software, Apogee, and Epic MegaGames - through to the significance of shareware for the 'forgotten' systems - the Mac, Atari ST, Amiga - when commercial game publishers turned away from them.

This book also charts the emergence of commercial shareware distributors like Educorp and the BBS/newsgroup sharing culture. And it explores how shareware developers plugged gaps in the video gaming market by creating games in niche and neglected genres like vertically-scrolling shoot-'em-ups (e.g.RaptorandTyrian) or racing games (e.g.Wacky WheelsandSkunny Kart) or RPGs (God of ThunderandRealmz), until finally, as the video game market again grew and shifted, and major publishers took control, how the shareware system faded into the background and fell from memory.

A trail of bodies reveals the M.O. of a serial killer. It can only be the work of a copycat. After all, the real killer died years ago. If that's true, then why are his prints left at the crime scenes?

From Hilton Head, SC to the shores of Lake Michigan, this case calls for a collaboration of unlikely detectives. S.D. Tooley has combined the characters in her Sam Casey Series and Chase Dagger series (written as Lee Driver) to create an exciting mix of mystery/paranormal and mystery/urban fantasy. A case this bizarre is right up Dagger's alley, but he isn't about ready to share it with another detective team. Headstrong Chase Dagger doesn't trust ex-FBI agent Jake Mitchell. It will be up to Sam and Sara to keep the two from killing each other before the case is solved.

Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland still suffers from PTSD after a case that went horribly wrong. Needing a fresh start, she moves to St. Louis to be near her ailing mother and opens a private investigation firm with her friend and former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair. They're soon approached by a grieving mother who wants them to find out what happened to her teenaged son who disappeared four years ago. River knows there's almost no hope the boy is still alive, but his mother needs closure, and River and Tony need a case, no matter how cold it might be.

But as they follow the boy's trail, which gets more complicated at every turn, they find themselves in the path of a murderer determined to punish anyone who gets in his way. With a killer on the loose set on finishing the job he started, will River be pulled back into her tormented past or finally face the demons that haunt her?

With her trademark blend of page-turning thrills and intricate plots, Nancy Mehl delivers a spine-tingling thriller that will keep readers up all night.

Memphis private eye Race Warren goes to Alaska to find Ron Billings, a client's estranged husband.

Surviving a deadly encounter with an assassin, Warren realizes someone doesn't want Billings found. Since the fugitive is key to the mystery, the private eye tracks Billings to a remote arctic village where Warren meets Dr. Mark Dunbar, head of a science team studying ancient beliefs that may have led to the bizarre killing of a native woman. Hoping to get information, Warren befriends the scientists as they uncover a cult involved in animal shapeshifting, findings that fit with rumors the girl was killed by a mythic wolf.

Warren finds Billings, an ex-policeman searching for his daughter, Carrie, taken by Russian Andrey Volkov, head of a human trafficking ring. The private eye and ex-cop join forces, flying to a North Slope oil town where the daughter is believed held in the sex trade. Failing to find Carrie, the two break out another captive, Myra, who reports the daughter is held at the Russian's Anchorage estate. Warren and Billings flee south with the girl, battling Volkov henchmen along the way.

At the village, the scientists learn a tribal shaman attempted a child sacrifice, but the boy miraculously survives and is rescued from the wilds and placed in a covert foster home. Believing the child is still in danger, Dunbar seeks Warren's help as the team concludes their study and prepares to present their findings in Anchorage where they arrive just as Myra's rescuers deliver the girl safely to the authorities.

In an assault on Volkov's mountain fortress, Billings frees his daughter then returns with her to Memphis while Warren stays behind for a final task. After he locates the boy and his caretaker in an old apartment building, Warren faces an unspeakable evil that has killed twice and is bent on destroying the child

Social justice work, we often assume, is raised voices and raised fists. It requires leading, advocating, fighting, and organizing wherever it takes place--in the streets, slums, villages, inner cities, halls of political power, and more. But what does social justice work look like for those of us who don't feel comfortable battling in the trenches?

Sensitive souls—including those who consider themselves highly emotional, empathic, or introverted—have much to contribute to bringing about a more just and equitable world. Such individuals are wise, thoughtful, and conscientious; they feel more deeply and see things that others don't. We need their contributions. Yet, sustaining justice work can be particularly challenging for the sensitive, and it requires a deep level of self-awareness, intentionality, and care.

In Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul, writer Dorcas Cheng-Tozun (Enneagram 4, INFJ, nonprofit/social enterprise professional, and multiple-burnout survivor) offers six possible pathways for sensitive types:

• Connectors: relational activists whose interactions and conversations build the social capital necessary for change
• Creatives: artists and creators whose work inspires, sheds light, makes connections, and brings issues into the public consciousness
• Record Keepers: archivists who preserve essential information and hold our collective memory and history
• Builders: inventors, programmers, and engineers who center empathy as they develop society-changing products and technologies
• Equippers: educators, mentors, and elders who build skills and knowledge within movements and shepherd the next generation of changemakers
• Researchers: data-driven individuals who utilize information as a persuasive tool to effect change and propose options for improvement

Alongside inspiring, real-life examples of highly sensitive world-changers, Cheng-Tozun expands the possibilities of how to have a positive social impact, affirming the particular gifts and talents that sensitive souls offer to a hurting world.

'Are you going into town today?' she says, which annoys me because it's something she says all the time, having forgotten she said it before, and I say, 'Jesus, Mum, not this again,' and she says, 'What again?' and I say, 'Town is shut down,' and while she can see I am upset and wants not to upset me like this, she is also wounded by my tone, and I am ashamed then and can only look at my plate, and I decide not to bring up what I intended to bring up, about the past, and about my need for her to apologise for it.

Gavin is spending the quarantine in a small flat in south Dublin with his eighty-year-old mother, whose mind is slowly slipping away. He has lived most of his adult life abroad and has returned home to care for her and to write a novel. But he finds that all he can write about is her.

Moving through a sequence of remembered rooms—the 'cells'—Gavin unspools an intimate story of his upbringing and early adulthood: feeling out of place in the insular suburb in which he grew up, the homophobic bullying he suffered at school, his brother's mental illness and drug addiction, his father's sudden death, his own devastating diagnosis, his struggles and triumphs as a writer, and above all, always, his relationship with his mother. Her brightness shines a light over his childhood, but her betrayal of his teenage self leads to years of resentment and disconnection. Now, he must find a way to reconcile with her, before it is too late.

Written with unusual frankness and urgency, Cells is at once an uncovering of filial love and its limits, and a coming to terms with separation and loss.

The floating dog. The scrawled messages. The corpse-like hands reaching into the world of the living.

When minor issues for homeowners Ronnie and Emily take a sudden left turn into the world of the weird, they look first to their handyman and then to their real estate agent for answers. Ed Thackery, newly appointed agent representing Cain Mill Homes, attempts to help but it soon becomes apparent that neither Ed nor his clients are aware of the horrors that have already infiltrated their small town.

Ed’s boss, Ellie, provides only convoluted and mysterious answers, while his wife’s growing resentment regarding his clients’ sexual orientation adds to his list of uphill battles. With time running out, Ed finds himself scrambling in desperation as he fights for his clients’ lives as well as his own.

Winning will prove costly, but if he loses, the fate of humanity could be at stake.

Lessons that have led a generation of students to become leaders, achieve personal happiness, and live life filled with joy.

High School teaches how to determine the area of a room, but not how to navigate the people and personalities you will find in that room. In school, you are exposed to the cataclysmic events of history, but rarely about the life struggles you'll experience.

Award-winning educator Dr. Richard Gary Shear has learned these lessons from decades of experience and research. Everything We Should Have Taught You in High School, But Never Did is a must-read for new graduates and people of all ages, revealing important life insights, such as:

• Learning the Two Secrets to Success
• How to Create the Rules of Life So You Win
• What Happy People Have in Common
• The Importance of Self Kindness
• How to Keep Your Dreams Alive
• A Guide on How to Find the Right Answers
• The Superpower of a Positive Attitude and Temperament

An exciting history of the improv group you’ve never heard of that changed comedy in America—this is the story of Boom Chicago in Amsterdam as told by its founders and most famous alumni! Featuring a foreword by Seth Meyers and a backword by Jordan Peele.

"It's kind of crazy, the impact on culture so many Boom Chicago alums have had. Boom was where I became my best comedic self: the excitement of Amsterdam, the freedom of that environment, the letting loose--it's magic. There's no better training ground." —Jordan Peele

"Boom Chicago should have ended up on the scrap heap of 'Terrible Ideas Americans Have While Stoned in Amsterdam.' But when you stubbornly love one thing (comedy) as much as another thing (Amsterdam), you just believe they should be together. And here we are--thirty years later, Boom Chicago is alive and kicking." —Seth Meyers

"Working at Boom Chicago was an unbelievable experience. Thank goodness someone was smart enough to write it all down! You're lucky 'cause you get to read about THE most exciting, fun, and illegal time I've ever had!" —Amber Ruffin

Featuring interviews with Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Amber Ruffin, Jason Sudeikis, Ike Barinholtz, Greg Shapiro, Kay Cannon, and many more; and a sixteen-page, full-color insert with both behind-the-scenes snapshots and images from live performances.

What do Ted Lasso, Get Out, Late Night with Seth Meyers, 30 Rock, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Breaking Bad, Saturday Night Live, Girls5Eva, The Colbert Report, Inside Amy Schumer, Pitch Perfect, Key & Peele, The Daily Show, MADtv, Rick and Morty, The Amber Ruffin Show, Horrible Bosses, Portlandia, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Suicide Squad, Superstore, How I Met Your Mother, Wicked, The Pee-Wee Herman Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Broad City all have in common? They all feature writers, creators, directors, or stars who got their start at Boom Chicago.

Having risen roughly to the middle of Chicago's cutthroat comedy scene, Andrew Moskos and Pep Rosenfeld decamped the Midwest for Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1993 to start their own improv comedy troupe, Boom Chicago. In a foreign land with zero tradition of English-language humor, Moskos and Rosenfeld unwittingly created the finishing school for some of today's most groundbreaking comedic talents. They (along with coauthors Matt Diehl and Saskia Maas) document this journey in the definitive oral history Boom Chicago Presents the 30 Most Important Years in Dutch History.

From its stages, Boom Chicago went on to launch cultural game changers like Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Amber Ruffin, Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, Ike Barinholtz, Kay Cannon, and Tami Sagher (and that's just a partial list). At Boom, these young upstarts honed their craft in front of unsuspecting foreign audiences and visiting dignitaries like Burt Reynolds, Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, Dutch royalty, and the Netherlands's prime minister--all while navigating a world with legal weed and prostitution, annual holiday celebrations involving blackface, cookies with weird racist names, and football that has nothing to do with the NFL. From this culture shock, this collective created a more topical, inclusive, tech-savvy humor that would become the dominant comedy style of our time. 

Praise for Boom Chicago:

"The Groundlings. The Harvard Lampoon. Second City. These comedy institutions have been supplying Hollywood with a steady stream of talent for decades. Well, there's another name—almost as influential—that you've never heard of: Amsterdam's Boom Chicago. Huh?" —GQ

"A small theater in Amsterdam became the most influential American comedy factory you've never heard of . . . Boom alums have had a significant hand in many of the shows that defined the past two decades of comedy." —New York 

A brand-new historical epic from the Master of Adventure, in which three strands of the Courtney family converge in a bloodthirsty bid for revenge.

Paris, 1794. Revolutionary fervour has erupted into the Reign of Terror. A young man, Paul Courtney, hides in a crowd watching as the condemned are brought to the guillotine. Among them is Constance Courtney, Paul's mother. As he watches her brutal execution, he knows he must avoid the same fate and fulfil his promise to her - to survive, no matter what. He joins Napoleon's army and is taken to Egypt, but with the world at war and traitors in every corner, just how far will Paul go to ensure his own survival?

Cape Town, 1806. Adam Courtney has spent his life in service to the navy and in the shadow of his father, the illustrious Admiral Robert Courtney. But when he returns home to Nativity Bay to find the homestead destroyed and the Courtney family murdered, Adam must accept his destiny and seek vengeance. Robert gives Adam the prized family heirloom, the Neptune sword, and makes his son swear on its blade that he will not rest until he has delivered justice. From Cape Town to Calcutta, on a quest for his family's honour, Adam discovers that the enemy he seeks may be closer to him than he realises...

Life and Death and All Points In Between.

Crows have seen it all, and though they haven’t always lived to tell the tale, still they play their part. We present ten tales inspired by the master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, paying tribute to his undying fascination with mankind’s decaying state, both mental and physical.

In conjunction with the Tell-Tale Steampunk Festival, we bring you stories by:

Aaron Rosenberg * David Lee Summers * Judi Fleming * Dana Fraedrich * James Chambers * Jessica Lucci * Doc Coleman * Michelle D. Sonnier * Danielle Ackley-McPhail * Ef Deal

Introduction by Levi Leland and Virginia Poe of the Beyond the Oblong Box Podcast

You've just received the diagnosis: cancer. You sit, stunned, trying to absorb all the medical jargon and "what ifs" being thrown at you. Chemo. Radiation. Surgery. Ports. Infusions. These words rattle around your brain, seeking purchase.

There's no doubt about it: you're in a battle for your life. Your medical team focuses on eliminating your cancer. You wonder, though, what you can do. In Thriving Through Cancer: A Whole-Istic Approach for Your Journey, you'll see that you can, in fact, do a lot to improve your health through this process. From what you consume-visually, physically, and emotionally-to the words you chose, you're in the driver's seat. This book offers clear direction, practical tips, and unerring support so that when you ring that bell signifying the end of treatment, you'll really feel victorious!

Can fiction save us? Is there hope for America in the time of Trump, pandemics, QAnon, and the end of genuine political discourse? What better than this perfectly told novel to tell the story of so many of us to ourselves, as we seek hope and solace in terrible times.

Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy after their father's death, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm marketed to the elite... to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society when they want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend's father as a potential traitor.

Sir Merritt Livingstone has spent a decade serving the monarch in the most elite guard, but when pneumonia lands him behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they're creating a new secret intelligence branch, he's intent on showing his worth. He suspects a man of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries, but needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare.

Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend's sake, and she's more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client... who can't possibly be as noble as he seems.

Lily is just your average female werewolf on the run from her pack, hanging with a couple of exiles and a witch. What could go wrong? And what happens when she learns there is a prophecy and she is the star role in it? Will she accept her destiny and be the wolf she was always meant to be?

Hollywood hair stylist Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood heartthrob Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic.

Lamont Booker's bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent's push for a fake relationship--something he never thought he'd consider in a million years.

With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems?

Toni Shiloh dazzles in this irresistible red-carpet romance with spotlight-stealing laughter, faith, and a happily ever after.

Say it with her now: "I love my people!"

In rhythmic prowess, Kim Singleton recounts the beauty and legacy of Black people who are "too many to name, from the corners of obscurity, to the highest of fame."

I Love My Peopleis a poetic tribute to African American history-makers and culture-shakers, complete with nostalgic photography and vibrant, playful illustration. In the vein of Gill Scott-Heron's poetry of the 1970s, author Kim Singleton invites us into call-and-response and brings a refreshing cadence to the page that captures every decade of Black joy in all its resilient, diverse, and excellent splendor.

"We were told that our bodies weren't built for this art. Rhythmic movement we mastered flowing straight from the heart."

Singleton shines a light on virtually every facet of Black community life, and unapologetically declares her people good--from the street corner to the White House and everything in between.

"In 1827, Freedom's Journal was born. Black content, Black operated, Black staff, Black owned."

By the end, you'll be chanting Singleton's anthem, too: "I LOVE MY PEOPLE!"

At first glance, Margaret Ward appears like any other heiress living a charmed life on the upper east side of Manhattan. Behind the door of her peculiar parlor, Maggie delves into the secrets of the unknown, exploring her talents as a spiritualist medium. When she holds a séance for a grieving widower, she discovers the dark mystery behind his wife’s death. The farther she goes to discover the truth, the more she uncovers about the nature of the world beyond life itself, and the more dangerous her pursuit becomes…

This story is the first installment in a journey of rebellion, self discovery, and staying true to one's passions. Maggie is a spirited and independent woman, alongside a cast of colorful characters including her fastidious older brother, a mysterious widower, her bold best friend with a passion for women's suffrage, and an eager academic who has dedicated his life to the study of the paranormal.

An oral history (with photographs) of the greatest American bar band of the twenty-first century.

On January 22, 2003, four men stepped onto a stage in Brooklyn and did something no one else was doing at that time, in that place. They played rock ’n’ roll: old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll with skyscraping riffs and sloppy solos, topped with extraordinary lyrics about an out-of-focus America, blurred by pills and powders, of crime and fear and desperation and redemption.

Twenty years later, The Hold Steady are one of America’s most beloved rock bands, famed for live shows that turn unbelievers into converts, and for a catalog filled with some of the most exciting yet poetic music of the twenty-first century. To mark those twenty years, The Hold Steady tell their full story in The Gospel of The Hold Steady: How a Resurrection Really Feels.

An oral history, based on interviews with everyone who has played in the band, and those who have worked with them over the course of their career, The Gospel of the Hold Steady addresses all the triumphs and setbacks of The Hold Steady’s career in the band’s own words—from high times to near deaths, from the brink of splitting to their current renaissance. The volume also includes over 200 photographs and images.

The Gospel of The Hold Steady is completed by essays about America’s greatest bar band by writers Rob Sheffield, Laura Barton, Isaac Fitzgerald, and Michael Hann, as well as the thoughts and memories of “The Unified Scene”—the fans who have helped define the band’s identity over the years. This is a book for everyone who loves The Hold Steady, and anyone who understands that the magic of rock ’n’ roll happens on a stage in a small room, with voices raised from the crowd.

PRAISE: “A colorful montage of stories about and photographs of American rock band The Hold Steady, by both members of the group as well as dedicated fans . . . A must-have for admirers of the band and a good choice to fans of bar rock.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Plenty of rock bands treat their fans like congregants. But not many shine a light on the arrangement. Fewer still go as far as The Hold Steady, whose lead vocalist and lyricist, Craig Finn, has a disarming way of combining humility and exultation.”—New York Times

"Jett is no frozen victim: She's a fighter, a detective, and when it counts the most, a trailblazer..." — J.R. Potter, award-winning teen mystery author of Thomas Creeper and the Gloomsbury Secret

Jett Jamison can't catch a break.

Her home in small town Wisteria is noisy as a zoo on steroids, and her mind buzzes with bits of a traumatic memory she'd rather forget. She's filled a shoebox with one hundred thirty-three to-do lists, her roadmaps to peace, but they only lead to dead ends. Sister Gia, master gardener and cat-whisperer extraordinaire, suggests a book by an anonymous author sure to bring calm quicker than those lists, but it's disappeared from all local libraries, and nobody wants to talk about it.

Enraged at the injustice, Jett continues to dig for answers and is drawn into a censorship battle with a high-profile radio host. Her peaceful protest backfires big time, and the town goes berserk. Now, for peace to be within reach, Jett must either face up to her past or remain forever bound by silence much more suffocating than the din in Wisteria.

Working class and middle class American citizens know that something has gone terribly wrong in the American society. They know that the U. S. government is not working on their behalf.

Citizens have many unanswered questions about what is wrong, and not very clear ideas on how to fix the problems.

Citizens want to know:

• Why and how did 5 million people enter our country illegally?
• How did prized natural gas that had granted America's wishes of energy self-sufficiency, reduced pollution, and inexpensive electricity become almost overnight a pariah fuel whose extraction was a war against nature?
• Which lawmakers, which laws, which votes of the people declared natural gas development and pipelines near criminal?
• Since when did Americans create a government Ministry of Truth? When did we assume the FBI had the right to subvert the campaign of a candidate it disliked?
• When did the nation abruptly decide that theft is not a crime, assault not a felony?

The root of the problems is that the centralized power of the Federal government became unthethered from the democratic consent of the governed.

The agencies of government, and the agents of government, have become an independent power on their own, and citizens have no political mechanism to regain democratic authority over the government.

We explain the history of how the centralized power of government originated in Madison’s flawed constitution.

Our solution for the problems is more democracy, not less. In other words we offer the strategy of Reclaiming the American Democratic Impulse.

"Let us at once take friendly leave of each other."

In her book, George Mason: Constitutionalist, Helen Hill describes the debate during the 1787 convention in terms of sectionalism, meaning that the northern states did not want to form a centralized union with the southern slaveocracy.

Hill writes,

"The sense of sectionalism became so strong that some of the members saw no solution but to organize two confederacies...on July 13 Morris stated, "Instead of attempting to blend incompatible things, let us at once take friendly leave of each other."...on July 23 Pinckney "reminded the Convention that if the Constitution should fail to insert some security to the Southern States against an emancipation of slaves and taxes on exports, he should be bound by duty to his State to vote against their report,"

Both Morris and Pinckney were correct in their opinion that the two alien cultures should never have been rammed together under a centralized, all-powerful government.

Likewise, today two alien cultures do not co-exist in peace, and do not share common cultural or philosophical principles on the mission of the national government.

We argue that the differences are irreconcilable, and cannot be remedied by amendments or modifications to Madison's document.

We agree with Delegate Morris that the time has come for the conservative states to take friendly leave of the Democrat Marxist states.

We argue that there is only one pathway back to freedom, and taking that path means starting over, with a new constitution, at the point in history when Mason and Jefferson wrote their respective documents, in 1776.

Jim Wyatt, a prominent state senator from Minnesota, is kidnapped on a visit to New York City by an Islamic human rights group who mistakenly believe that he is a CIA agent. They hold him hostage in return for the release of a Muslim cleric who was convicted and imprisoned for inciting violence in connection with the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. Through a series of video tapes addressed to the public and aired on television, Jim urges people to support the cause of releasing the cleric, who he believes was wrongly convicted.

Between the tapes, while locked in a bedroom, Jim examines his relationships with his four wives, his seven children, and his parents. He also develops a relationship with Zoraya, the leader of his captors, who is young enough to be his daughter. Out in the world Muslims are being killed daily in the ethnic cleansing of Bosnia, which his captors use as justification for what they are doing. Since they have set a deadline by which time if the government doesn't release the cleric they will kill Jim, his life depends on his efforts to gain the trust of Zoraya and persuade the government to release the cleric.

The great resignation and the quiet quitting phenomenon have shown us that everything is not alright at work!

The landscape of work is changing dramatically since the COVID19 pandemic, and now it our time to decide whether we want our work to look the same or to look vastly different. At one level, this book is about examining why we work the way we do (9-5, Monday to Friday grind), and how our relationship with money and debt has causes us to be where we are. This book will also help individuals address their most difficult workplace challenges such as addressing bullying, harassment, and issues of race and equity in a way that leaves people engaged and involved.

However, at the deepest level, this book is about mastery over ourselves and our lives. The past few years, people have been feeling fairly powerless about the circumstances in their lives. With this book, you can take back your power and reimagine your life and work so that you can finally live the life of your dreams.

There are creatures lurking in our world. Obscure creatures long relegated to myth and legend. They have been sighted by a lucky—or unlucky—few, some have even been photographed, but their existence remains unproven and unrecognized by the scientific community.

These creatures, long thought gone, have somehow survived; creatures from our nightmares haunting the dark places. They swim in our lakes and bays, they soar the night skies, they hunt in the woods. Some are from our past, and some from other worlds, and others have always been with us—watching us, fearing us, hunting us.

These are the cryptids, and Systema Paradoxa tells their tales.

***

Despite a childhood plagued by death, Daniel Smith has built a good life for himself, though no one would believe it if he told them.

Working for the Wranglers—a covert organization tasked with keeping cryptids a secret from the common man—everything he has accomplished threatens to crumble when his charge goes rogue, leaving a trail of death and blood and monster sightings in his wake.

When the rogue invades another cryptid's turf, Daniel must confront his past to save his future, but will any of them survive the encounter

One candid photograph will change the lives of four people forever.

While taking photographs at an exposition in Seattle in 1909, Camera Girl Eleanor Bennett snaps an image of a woman in widow's clothes with deep sorrow etched in her expression and a young infant in her arms.

Eleanor longs to study botany at the University of Washington and soon becomes fast friends with botanist Bill Reed, but she can't stop thinking about the widow in the photograph. She is stunned to learn Bill recognizes the woman as the sister-in-law he believed lost in a shipwreck.

As Eleanor and Bill hunt for Amelia Reed to reunite her with her grief-stricken husband, they must stand together to face the danger that follows and learn to trust that God will direct their paths.

In a world poised on the precipice of the modern age, a revival preacher and his aide-de-camp follow a sign in the heavens to observe what they hope may be the birth of a miracle child.

When the babe turns out to not be what they expected, the witnesses disperse in disappointment, allowing her to have a normal, late-18th century, California childhood. Tragic events bring the two together again, sending them on an adventure to the Big Island of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i where the young girl’s propensity for marvels begins to manifest.

Meanwhile, agents are searching for the mismatched travelers, each with their own agenda, including celestial beings who are gambling on humankind’s ability to evolve. Or not.

My name is Jael Quinlan and I'm a freelance exorcist, no matter how much the churches in Melbourne hate it. There's a darkness growing in my city and my boss Uriel, the sternly handsome and badass Archangel of the North, is expecting me to get to the bottom of it.

The problem is these demons are unlike any I've ever seen and they are all giddy about an upcoming apocalypse. On top of that, I've been having some crazy visions about a demon hunter on the other side of the world named Mychal. He's frighteningly scary and has a serious depression problem.

It turns out I'm caught up in one of those special missions from a higher power (you got to hate those) and I know I'm going to need Mychal's and Uriel's help in order to stop two rampaging Watcher angels and Hel'el (the big bad Devil himself) from kicking off a new apocalypse.

I honestly don't know what a human exorcist can do in a battle of supernatural good and evil, but all I know is finding out is going to be one hell of a ride.

The Exorcist and the Demon Hunter is a story of angry angels and determined demons, love and death and self-sacrifice, and follows Jael and Mychal from The Firebird Faerie Tales.

This book is a standalone novel in the Firebird Faerie Tales and may be read independently of the other books in the series.

Will you actively listen and follow the advice provided by your patient’s inner wisdom?

Will you use that wisdom to guide them in recovering their spiritual and physical wellness?

The author of this manual proposes that empathy and intention can tap into inner wisdom, which can enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic styles without changing their current practices. The author also introduces the concept of Holographic medicine, which considers how collective karmic experiences and individual lifestyles can influence the healing process, similar to the placebo effect. Combining the therapist's intention with the patient's facilitation allows optimal healing, regardless of the therapeutic style used.

Reach the best negotiated agreement for yourself and your counterpart as you apply the principles in Never Split the Difference.

This chapter-by-chapter workbook and brief summary to Chris Voss’s Never Split the Difference will allow you to reach an agreement in any aspect of your life:

• Learn to ask the right questions so that your counterpart or opponent may open up to you
• Discover the three types of voices one can use and find out which one is best to use in your situation
• Avoid conflict and build rapport in your negotiation
• Make the other party feel seen and heard; identify feelings to diffuse tension
• Learn about the three types of yes and see which one is the best type
• See why listening is so powerful
• Discover how to avoid compromises and bad deals
• Read about the exciting and often frightening cases Voss has worked on
• See why body language is the biggest giveaway in a communication
• Find out your negotiation style and that of your counter party
• Use leverage with ease and power

And much more!

*Please Note: This is an unofficial companion workbook and summary for Never Split The Difference. This companion is designed to further your understanding of the book and is designed to help you reflect. This is not the original book.

No matter your schedule, now is the time to embrace peace, locate your serenity, by practicing yoga.

Whatever your reason for practicing yoga – pain or stress relief, flexibility, fitness, strength, or peace of mind – you likely know how effective it is and how it can be a great source of happiness and peace.

This guide will help you start practicing or get back to yoga with a sequence that can be done anytime, anywhere, even without any props – and all you need are 10 minutes.

Now, breathe in. Clear your mind. Breathe out.

And let's get started.

In this practical guide, you will discover:

• A whole-body yoga routine with 24 yoga poses to help you get started with step-by-step instructions and detailed illustrations
• The peaceful world of yoga – uncover its history, philosophy, and the many details of this beautiful and inspirational practice that fits any and all schedules
• How yoga can transform your physique and evolve your mind to grow towards a happier and brighter life no matter where you plan on practicing
• Mesmerizing breathing techniques that you can use while doing your yoga poses or even outside your workout to help steady and calm you down
• Essential practices to make the best of yoga by preparing your mind and body to obtain energy, focus and confidence
• The power of meditation – discover this technique's benefits, the best possible way to practice it, and how it multiplies the effects of yoga
• Bonus QR codes for each pose to make them easier to do, especially on-the-go, and the plan easier to stick to

And much more.

Have you taken that deep breath? How do you feel now?

Go ahead and try one more deep inhale and exhale. Calm yourself and imagine yourself on a yoga mat.

Now, it's time to put this into practice and improve your life.

Noir: the boulevard of broken dreams.

In this anthology of twenty-two crime stories there are crooks and crooked cops, lost and missing persons, those running and those hiding, femme fatales, avocados, downbeat PIs, deadbeat insurance investigators, hotel detectives and unsavory gangs, those doing wrong and those done wrong by, fated lovers and failed robberies; even Inspector Maigret at the infamous château in Roissy. Why not take a shot?

It is the year 2030, and the Roman Empire never fell. Emperor Nero II rules half the world, but half the world is not enough for the unpredictable Emperor.

Britannia is a Roman outpost. London Bridge is lined with crucified bodies. The streets are patrolled by soldiers in high-speed, horseless chariots. Nero views Britannia as a vital but fractious asset for his planned invasion of the Republic of Indigenous America.

Boatman King was born out of rage. A rage that propels him to try and destroy the Empire. He's not alone: he leads clandestine rebels fighting to drive the Empire from Britannia. These rebels are his weapon, which he hopes will obliterate Nero and the entire Empire.

Rebellion, though, comes at a steep price. Olivia, Boatman's wife, is caught and crucified on London Bridge by Nero's son, Maximus, who is intent on flushing Boatman from hiding.

Instead, Maximus draws Maverick 'The Beast' Kirabo, Boatman's fearsome second-in-command, a champion gladiator who now fights for Rome's dismay, not their entertainment.

WARNING: 18 years old or older PLEASE

Police detectives Mike Brady and Steve Raynes are assigned to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. Preliminary inquiries provided no leads and no suspects. Her parents, their marriage failing, seem preoccupied and uncooperative. No one involved is prepared for the outcome as the case unravels.

A missing child. A promiscuous wife. Secrets abound.

Where does the truth lie?

This debut collection by multi-award-winning author and artist Raven Oak brings together fantastical stories from the past ten years of her career, ranging from gothic and urban fantasy to post-apocalyptic and steampunk tales.

You’ll find coffee-drinking ghosts, ever-changing faces, elemental spirits who both protect and harm, assassins, magical pockets, and snarky creatures in these ELEVEN fanciful fictions. Dragon Springs & Other Things contains SIX never-before seen stories for your enjoyment, including two stories featuring fan favorite character, Ida, from Oak’s Boahim Trilogy.

STORIES INCLUDE: Mirror Me, Water the Fire, Alive, Learning to Fly, The Drive to Work, The Ringers, Cookie Man, Amaskan, Peace Be With You, Friend, The Snark, and Dragon Springs & Other Things.

Part II of this debut collection by multi-award-winning author and artist Raven Oak brings together speculative fiction stories from the past ten years of her career, ranging from space adventures with a dash of mystery and other near-future tales to post-apocalyptic stories and deep dives into the mind.

You’ll find closed-ship mysteries, foul-acting apps, talking cats, retail hell, and hacked programs in these ELEVEN speculative fiction pieces. Space Ships & Other Trips contains FIVE never-before seen stories for your enjoyment, including a tie-in story from Jeff Sturgeon’s The Last Cities of Earth universe.

STORIES INCLUDE: The Loss of Luna, Hungry, Mouth, Only a Bird, Q-Be, Hands, Ol’ St. Nick, Drip, Level Up, Scout’s Honor, and D.E.A.T.H.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced negotiator, this book is a game-changer. Gain valuable insights, advice, and tactics to help you navigate any negotiation scenario with ease.

Negotiation is the cornerstone of business and personal success, and this book is your golden ticket to mastering this critical skill.

Learn how to prepare effectively, conduct successful win-win negotiations, and handle difficult situations with confidence.

Discover the psychology behind successful negotiations and see real-life examples of negotiation tactics from major corporations like Tesla, Disney, Microsoft, Pfizer, Google and Apple.

Negotiation Masterclass will help you become a better negotiator. Get ready to transform your financial, professional, and personal life with the power of negotiation.

Born and raised on an isolated Appalachian mountain, sixteen-year-old Marli Meade yearns to break free from her father’s tyranny but fears she may never escape.

When she meets local boy Nate Porter, though, she realizes the life she craves is worth fighting for even with the grave risk that fight would entail.

As her two worlds collide, exposing buried secrets more sinister than she imagined and unknown facts about her mother’s death, Marli must decide if she has the courage to fight for her future or if time has run out on her chance to live.

This book will uniquely allow you to understand the Book of Genesis as never before.

An introduction describes the method of interpretation known as peshat and reveals how the field of comparative Semitics enlightens us.

Chapter-by-chapter analyses of selected verses of the biblical text examine the meanings of various biblical words in light of information gleaned from Akkadian.

Vocalized Hebrew with transliterations and translations gives access to high-level linguistic understanding even for neophytes.

A glossary explains relevant terminology, and a map and table of chronology give further context to the discussion.

This is a must-have resource for any student of the Bible.

Joy's Grandmama lives in an old house, on an old street, with old trees and all kinds of old things. And Joy already knows... there's no fun in that!

When young Joy goes to spend the day with Grandmama, she struggles to find beauty in all the old things at Grandmama's house. None of it looks or smells quite the same as it does at home. But as the day passes, Grandmama patiently helps Joy discover how the old ways can bring joy to any heart. Whether it's the swaying of stately trees, bubbles dancing in a sink filled with dishes, the sweet scents of a lovingly tended garden, or the memories found in a room packed with hats - if Joy open's her heart and mind, there is beauty to be found everywhere at Grandmama's house.

Gorgeous, richly detailed illustrations capture the movement of Joy's feelings of boredom and doubt to awe and appreciation for her Grandmama's attitude and way of life. Debut author-illustrator Anita Crawford Clark celebrates her African American lived experience and family heritage in this intergenerational story that is certain to encourage a healthy-aging mindset among readers of all ages and add a spark of joy to any home, classroom, or library setting. A perfect gift for grandparents and grandchildren alike!

Widowed Euodia, known to her neighbors as "the Lydian woman," seeks to make a fresh start by moving to the foreign city of Philippi. She finds new purpose after meeting Paulos, apostle to the Gentiles, who opens her eyes to helping those in need, particularly women and those who have been enslaved.

Retired Roman soldier Hector has settled in Philippi with dreams of a future filled with wealth and status, pooling his army earnings with Lucius, his fellow comrade in arms turned business partner. His hopes are dashed, however, when Paulos robs their youngest slave of her lucrative ability to foretell the future, rendering her worthless to Hector's ambition.

When Euodia becomes aware that Sabina is being mistreated, she buys Sabina from Lucius, intending to set the girl free. But when Hector claims the sale was not legitimate, he takes Sabina back and swears he will find someone to restore her valuable "gift"... even if he must travel to the ends of the earth to do so. Following close behind him, Euodia and her servants set out to rescue Sabina, not for gain, but to set her free forever.

In her stirring series starter, New York Times bestselling author Angela Hunt dives into the perilous days of the early church as Christians struggle to remain true to their faith amid the highest of risks in a hostile pagan culture.

In 1980s New York City, a crime reporter with little to lose risks the only thing that matters to uncover the truth....

Trisha Connell's journalism reflects her punk rock lifestyle: relentless, confrontational, and bitingly honest. It's a style that scores front-page headlines but has her forever teetering on the verge of victory or disaster. Now one crime will forever change Trisha's life.

As she charges into the story of a sensational theft at an art museum, she discovers a murdered guard is someone she knew, a former foster kid who was adopted and supposed to be living a good life. To make it worse, the guard is suspected to be one of the thieves.

Determined to uncover the truth, Trisha bulls her way into the story, risking her life and career on what could be the story of the decade, if her editor doesn't fire her first. She finds an ally in Edmund Grayson, a security expert assigned to the museum, who's driven by his own guilt in failing to stop the murder.

Chasing the story will take Trisha from the punk clubs to the high society to the inner workings of newspapers of New York in the 1980s. It will take all her street skills to survive.

Learning to read can be tricky, but a good teacher can make all the difference!

When your feathered friends start begging for books, you want to be ready with all the right tools. First, find a cozy place to rest their chicken cheeks and help them peck the right story. Make sure to avoid the scary ones (and any books with fowl language). Help your chickens practice letter sounds, point out common words, and encourage every chicken scratch. Don't forget to celebrate with a dance party! Before long, words will be flying off the pages . . . unless that fox gets in the way.

With warm colors, adorable characters, humor and hints of forthcoming mischief, How to Hatch a Reader is the perfect addition to any home, library or classroom, helping kids build confidence in their own skills while encouraging a love for books and reading with others.

In the 1880s, Alta Belle, daughter of a New York merchant, is disappointed in love.

Not yet twenty and against her parents' wishes, she accepts a job as a schoolmarm in Black Butte, a small coal mining town in the territory of New Mexico. Traveling there by train and stagecoach, she meets an exciting rancher that may just make her forget about her previous romantic woes, but they arrive in Black Butte too late. School has started without her.

Her job is gone, and soon her handsome new friend absconds with her reputation. Abandoned, Alta must make her way in a strange town where folks - especially the men - consider her a fallen woman.

Born to the trade, Alta finds a job in the Mercantile and is pressed by her landlady to become a part of the community.

Alta soon finds that she may just be able to build a new life after all, but can she ever forget about the rancher with the blue-green eyes and the true courtship she desires?

A pop-up thunderstorm marched its way across the Hudson River, ambushing a young couple’s kayaking trip. The woman miraculously made it back to shore, but her fiancé remains missing. Ebony and her partner are the first responders who rush to the river to assist in rescuing the capsized boater.

The victim’s identity shocks Ebony to the core. Kyle Emory, the ex-boyfriend of her estranged best friend, attorney Jessie Martin, is the man who never made it out of the water. The accident ignites a firestorm between the two friends, pitting them against each other in a race to discover whether Kyle survived or whether he met his untimely demise. Under pressure from the chief and the DA, Ebony needs to solve the mystery, while Jessie seeks justice for the sake of the daughter she shares with Kyle.

The investigation leads them through the dark worlds of social media, online sports betting, and extreme sports. Along the way, they uncover lies and betrayals, and gather a list of dangerous suspects who are all linked to the accident survivor, Kyle’s mysterious fiancée. Even more, the discovery that Kyle possessed his own life-shattering secrets has trapped Ebony between her career and her lifelong friendship with Jessie. Yet neither Ebony nor Jessie will stop until they discover the truth about the drowning. Even if it destroys their friendship and their lives.

But the evidence is as murky as the secretive Hudson River. Only the river knows whether Kyle’s tragic death was an accident, a suicide, or something more sinister.

Jaq is a loner. He is completely happy with sharing his home with no one but his adopted dog and having as little to do as possible with the neighbors. Or so he thinks until he bumps into a grimling in the pouring rain. Whether he wanted it or not, the encounter in the murky woods changes his life forever.

When Briar sets out hunting with his clan mates on a rainy day, little does he know of how revolutionary consequences a simple act of goodwill can have. The nocturnal fays avoid contact with humans far as they can, but when it comes to choosing between saving a life or closing his eyes to evil, to Briar, the choice is clear.

But will anything good come out of the collision of the opposites? Is allowing the night to step over his threshold the silliest choice Jaq has ever made, or could it result in something positive?

Allowing the Night is a romantic fae fantasy novella (45k words) with a tad of darkness. Please note that the book is not suitable for underage readers because of the intimate scenes!

A novella packed with both ideas and action. In the near-future, two strangers interrupt Sarah’s idyllic rural existence, confronting her with knowledge of a life she has entirely forgotten, insisting she’s a missing part of their hivemind. Their appearance leads her to an abandoned beehive and the strange, transparent cube that lies within. The cube contains memories, that much is certain, but are they her memories?

When corporate soldiers invade her home, Sarah is forced to accept that something is going on and that these two strangers – Brea and Blake – know far more about it than she does. Her only option is to decode the cube, reclaim her memories, and rediscover a life she has tried so hard to avoid. But where exactly will that leave her, and why did she run from it in the first place?

“An enthralling and unnerving tale from a writer to watch.” – Gareth L. Powell

“A pacy and exciting tale of memory, love and what you’d do to protect what it means to be human. Recommended.” – Stewart Hotston

Dr. Israel Drazin offers readers comprehensive, eye-opening, easy-to-read revelations that show that the Bible purposely avoids presenting clear descriptions of the thinking and behaviors of God and biblical people.

Ambiguities and obscurities are present in virtually every situation and allow readers to imagine their own details. The narratives become like fascinating parables designed to attract readers using the startling unclear details that prompt thought about why the biblical character acted thus, and learn from their interpretations of these thoughts and acts how to behave.

Dr. Drazin emphasizes that proper understanding can only be attained by asking questions and shows that contrary to what many think, the Hebrew Bible offers almost nothing about God, what God did, and what the founding patriarchs thought and did. With this understanding, readers will not be surprised that ancient and modern Bible commentators, religious and non-religious, have different interpretations of the Torah.

The gripping sequel to award-winning thriller Dead Sound, perfect for fans of Karen Robards and Kelley Armstrong.

They were meant to be traveling away from danger...

The Doctor

Con O'Brien returned to Ireland to help solve a medical mystery that could destroy his brother's life. He brought along his new girlfriend, Neve, to introduce her to his family and the country he calls home—and to put an ocean between her and the dangers still lurking in Washington, DC.

The Therapist

Neve Keane is convinced that the key to curing a baffling illness lies with an elusive video game designer in Galway. But getting his help means overcoming bad blood and broken hearts—and so far, he won’t answer his phone.

The Leader

When you've gained the favor of an ancient god, nothing and no one can stop you from getting what you want—even if you demand the ultimate sacrifice.

In their race to uncover sinister secrets, Con and Neve get trapped with their backs against the wall, and the water is rising. Now they must find a way to save themselves, rescue innocent victims, and stop a deadly evil in its tracks—all before sunrise tomorrow.

They say that legends are born, not made. But for Jeremy Goodson and Masaru Hagen that is far from the truth. Confronted by something that neither of them can explain, two complete strangers from opposite sides of the world embark on an unforgettable journey that will forge them into living legends.

It has been almost 4,000 years since magic disappeared from the Earth. Hidden from humanity by the Veil, those who possess magic live in ancient settlements across the globe. Over the centuries, these beings have pierced the Veil, leaving behind glimpses and shadows of the fantastic and arcane. Fueled by distant memories and humanity's desire for wonder, familiar stories of myths and legends have been passed down for thousands of years in nearly every culture and nation.

Jeremy Goodson, an average, overweight teacher in New York City finds his entire world turned upside down when a stranger tempts him to leave everything behind and start a journey that will test Jeremy's mysterious gift and bring magic and hope back to humanity.

Masaru Hagen, the adopted son of American tech entrepreneurs living in Tokyo, has been guided by an unseen voice all his life. On the eve of his twentieth birthday, the voice leads him across thousands of miles, on a mysterious and perilous mission he alone can undertake. But there are principalities of this world that will do whatever they can to stop Jeremy and Masaru and keep magic out of the hands of humanity forever.

One of these men will bring hope to the world; the other will bring death. The world they once knew will be changed forever, not only for themselves, but for everyone on Earth?and maybe not for the best.

She has a loving husband and a successful career—who says you can’t have it all? Miranda Quinn is living her very best life… until she’s not.

It’s been two years since her legal advice TV show was canceled, but the former Assistant District Attorney has rebounded with a late-night radio show, Miranda Nights. When her closest friend’s teenaged son gets arrested, Miranda tries to help but the evidence against him is overwhelming. Following a family member’s medical diagnosis, Miranda begins to wonder if her ‘happily ever after’ has been canceled as well.

But the real trouble arrives when a persistent caller, desperate for Miranda’s attention, embarks on an all-out effort to get her to see the error of her ways. Threatening messages and slanderous social media posts escalate to break-ins and arson when a fanatical fan claims to be her only path to salvation.

Miranda Nights is a fast-paced, witty story full of hidden dangers, with a strong and resilient woman at its core.

Two cultures met in Minnesota—one striving to maintain its homeland and traditions, another trying to create a life of freedom, prosperity, and abundance.

Samuel Copeland was just a teenager in 1859 when he and his family left Vermont for the promise of a new life in Minnesota. But life is harder and more dangerous than he expected. Devastated by the loss of his father at the hands of Indians and seeking to protect his brother, Samuel joins the Union army believing he’d be safe on the frontier. WaabiskiMakwa was still a boy in 1850 when his father perished at Sandy Lake because of the negligence of U.S. government officials. Seeing his way of life crumbling around him, WaabiskiMakwa leaves his home to mourn his father and seek a new way, one that includes his lost-love, Agnes. Seeking their own solutions, neither Waabi or Samuel could see the collision course their paths had been set upon by a world in conflict. War was in their future and it was inevitable. But when war breaks out, and their cultures collide, so do their individual paths. Though they can’t stop the war, maybe they can help each other.

Fueled by years of mistreatment and seeing the opportunity provided by the War with the South, Dakota spokesman Little Crow and Ojibwe leader Bagone-giizhig, join forces in an effort to reclaim their Native lands. Spurred by early victories over Fort Ridgley and New Ulm, the Dakota-Ojibwe Alliance heads north to Fort Snelling, the beacon of American strength in the region. Once thought impenetrable, the fort and its small group of volunteer militia fights to hang on when a new enemy arrives from the West.

In Reclaiming Mni Sota, the true and lasting results of history are challenged. Acting as individuals, striving to protect ourselves and our families, it’s impossible to understand our role and impact in the much larger march of time. The United States is an abundant, beautiful land filled with wealth and opportunity, but its history is scarred by inequity and loss. What if the defeated became the victors? What would that mean for the world today and how would that illuminate the wrongs of the past?

Three men. Two timelines. One wish.

Haunted by her choices, including marrying an abusive con man, thirty-five-year-old Elizabeth has been unable to speak for two years. She is further devastated when she learns an old boyfriend has died. Nothing in her life is right.

That night, Elizabeth wishes for a mulligan. When she wakes, to her surprise, it is no longer 2022, but 2017. Though thrilled to have a chance to fix mistakes, the past is not perfect. She has a stalker and is still voiceless. Just like before, her boyfriend slips into a mysterious coma, so she enlists his brother Christopher’s aid to determine the cause. In their investigation, he becomes her staunchest ally and her unexpected soulmate.

Elizabeth’s stalker threatens her happiness, as do those who wish secrets to remain buried. If she can’t reclaim her voice, her former boyfriend will fade away in a coma and her stalker may claim her life.

Don’t miss The Wish, which mixes the mundane with a hint of magic—a romantic and thrilling ride for anyone who imagines they could transform regret into their best decision.

Intelligent and industrious Princess Calanthe Traenu is stunned when her duke-of-a-husband Lord Sanders Persungen abandons her after their wedding feast without so much as a note. Convinced that her remote yet handsome husband’s work relates to the security of her uncle’s kingdom, she discovers the secret location of Sanders’ camp and journeys across a continent to him. Taken aback by the harsh conditions, constant threats from raiders, and the exhausted state of her husband, the resolute Calanthe breaks free of Osmiran social constraints and carves out a place for herself. Sanders begins to trust her, and she falls in love with his dedication to his workers and undisclosed mission, his love of history, and his smile when she snorts with laughter. Calanthe set out to secure Osmira’s future and found so much more.

A Gift of Stars is a high heat (explicit sex on the page), second-world fantasy romance with an arranged marriage trope. The book contains mild swearing, and the author uses British spelling.

What is a GOOGOL?

Imagine all the beaches in the world. Imagine all the sand on those beaches. Every grain of sand combined is less than one googol.

1 x 10^21 (sand) < 1 x 10^100 (Googol)

"I love you more than all the stars combined. I love the way your smile shines."

Through thick and thin, the good and the bad, and all the ups and downs, a mother's love never wavers. A wonderful bedtime story to remind children how much we love them. Don't forget to say "I LOVE YOU GOOGOL" at night!

Just when it seemed that nothing substantially new can be said or written about the first part of Genesis, In the Beginnings presents it in a dramatic new light.

Through a close and careful reading of the first eleven chapters of Genesis, this book shows convincingly that hidden beneath the surface of the text, there is not one beginning, but rather two beginnings. Two accounts of creation are followed by two parallel narratives that reflect two distinct and at times competing worldviews regarding the nature of God, of human beings, of our role in the world, of the relationship between the man and the woman, and much more.

Whether one accepts the traditional or the critical view of the Torah’s origins, In the Beginnings is a vivid and powerful testimony to the Torah’s depth, richness, and multivocality, with profound implications for the ways it is to be understood and lived in our day.

When 22-year-old Joy Hayes realizes that the voice inside her head isn't her own, the battle begins for control of the young woman's mind, body, and soul.

After surviving years of childhood trauma, and a battle against cancer, life has led Joy into a dead-end accounting job—a purgatory of cubicles and beige walls. But then she meets Buttercup, an inner voice that is not her own—a sarcastic and mocking force with dark thoughts and powers beyond Joy's wildest imagination.

Embracing her newfound sense of power, Joy begins to wonder, with this unseen companion by her side, is it possible to win the heart of her best friend, Ethan, a nerdy but handsome engineering student?

But as Joy searches for happiness, she fails to realize that she's slowly losing herself to this darker force as the malevolent entity seeks to right the bigger wrongs in Joy's life. Tapping into Joy's repressed thoughts, Buttercup sets out to deliver justice—even if it means taking possession of the young woman's body to punish those deemed to be a threat.

After a lifetime of victimization at the hands of others, will Joy become a victim of her own mind, giving into Buttercup's darkest desires? Or will the young woman have the strength to seize control over her inner demon and repair her divided mind?

The nightmare of the quarantine of a virus that triggers cannibalistic madness in its victims begins without fanfare in the small Southern California town of Costaguana.

Phoebe suspects her husband Jason, the mayor, of cheating on her with a prostitute, which is all the more shocking because Jason has the reputation of being an incorruptible mayor. Trailing him Phoebe watches him pick up a hooker in the red-light district on the Strip. She later goes to the hooker's motel room to confront her and hears bloodcurdling screams and loud noises as she stands outside the hooker's door. Phoebe flees in terror. She enlists the aid of her best friend Meredith, a misanthropic veterinarian who prefers animals to people, to accompany her to the hooker's motel room the next day. While they are on the Strip, a helicopter appears in the sky and starts shooting people on the street without any explanation. The quarantine has begun.

This is a book about the activities carried out by Roger Bunyan, an average ability mountain fanatic. Inside are a variety of stories from over a fifty year period taken from his diary. Included are light-hearted anecdotes, those of a more serious nature and a near 'life-ending' experience. As a complete mountain devotee, Roger shares tales from across upland Britain, Europe and East Africa covering a wide range of activities including walking, climbing and cross-country skiing.

Twenty years have passed since the last battle and the Warriors have gone their separate ways. It’s not until one of their friends is mysteriously captured that Kendra and Endokia set out to find her. They seek the help from the other Warriors but even with their help they are always two steps behind. The journey creates new friendships and test old ones. When it’s finally discovered that an old enemy is behind the kidnapping and that a bigger plan is in effect, they must work together to stop a universal catastrophe.

This is the third and final book in the Warriors Legacy series.

What Would You Do To Save Your Sibling?

As a child, Dylan Dubois had always enjoyed her mother’s magical tales of adventure and faraway places. But when a tragic fire claims her father’s life and lands her little sister in a coma, she wonders whether there might have been more to her late mother’s stories, after all.

Plagued by recurring nightmares, Dylan struggles to cope with her sister’s deteriorating condition, and with a number of perplexing discoveries she makes regarding her mother’s past. An ancient book she finds hidden amongst her mother’s belongings offers a clue, and a final avenue to her sister’s salvation. The cryptic symbols within hint at a legacy that has been passed down through her family for generations. One which might be capable of unimaginable healing.

Unable to solve the riddle alone, Dylan enlists the help of a handsome stranger, whose past also seems shrouded in secrets. Kit (as he calls himself) has a quick wit, sly smile and knowledge beyond his years. Though he may be her only hope at unraveling the mystery surrounding her family, Kit’s habit of disappearing whenever it suits him also leaves Dylan in doubt of his motives.

With her sister’s life hanging in the balance, Dylan has no choice but to trust her shifty new ally. Together, she and Kit must race to solve the puzzle of the ancient book, in order to unlock the power within, and save her sister before it’s too late.

On their way to laying their fallen leader, Dante Blackhart, to rest, the Blades – a highly atypical mercenary band – accept a job offer. It soon becomes clear, however, that their employer has a hidden agenda and is being far from honest with them. Before they know it, the Blades are embroiled in sorcerous shenanigans and the disappearance of a queen, which leads to them defending a besieged city against an invading army in the face of impossible odds.

Fortunately, they have a trick or two up their collective sleeves, but will that be enough?

In The Blackhart Blades, David Gullen delivers a novella of swashbuckling adventure and duplicity, told with wry humour; a fantasy of found family, dangerous magic, good food, war, heroism, betrayal… and terrible poetry.

Want to learn the ropes of time management? Time Management Essentials You Always Wanted To Know is a comprehensive guide for you to learn managing and leveraging time to live a stress-free, blissful, and fulfilling life.

A practical guide to learn managing time at work and in life.

With this book, you will learn to:

• Maximize time in the day and not lose or waste time
• Synchronize work and home tasks on the same day
• Prepare for a scheduled event
• Master the skills to work remotely and juggle home tasks simultaneously

Time management is an art that either comes naturally or needs to be learned. It is a greatly useful life skill that will help you manage multiple things with ease. Time Management Essentials You Always Wanted To Know provides practical ways to control and keep track of time. With techniques like time blocking and the P.A.U.S.E method, you can efficiently divide your time for your job/business/school and household tasks simultaneously and complete your tasks without errors.

With the help of practical exercises, you can begin to immediately maximize your time in the day, find the lost time and gain it back, always be prepared for scheduled events, and juggle the many things in life such as work, school, and home without dropping the ball.

The reader will gain an understanding of the following from reading this book:

• How to successfully juggle many different things in life
• How to plan and prepare for a scheduled event without hiccups
• How to manage expectations so they don’t ruin your day or waste your time
• How to ensure and maintain high-quality work performance
• How to have long-lasting friendships and family relationships
• How to have the time it takes to start a business while employed
• How to always have time for work, school, family, and yourself every day

A fairy, a sorcerer, and the inquisitor hunting them both…

As a fairy, Breeze has been taught never to talk to humans or leave the forest. But when she meets a human sorcerer, she learns that everything she’s been taught puts fairykind in danger. She must find Nana, her caretaker, and learn the truth to save her people.

Kieran, the sorcerer, knows magic is forbidden. On the run from a dangerous inquisitor, he must lay low or risk being caught. He has always had to hide his magic – any other action on his part would have him hunted by inquisitors; and inquisitors make witches and sorcerers pay in blood.

Faith is determined to bring down the sorcerer. But she’s hiding her own dark secret. A secret even she isn’t aware of. The kind of secret that puts her – and everyone around her – in danger.

Three lives, entwined by fate, converge. Will they find the answers they seek? Or will they destroy one another in the process?

Betrayed by her first and only love, Doctor Wilhelmina Van Helsing fled to Paris intent on finding a cure for the blood plague devastating the country.

With her many talents and sheer force of will, she’s become the preeminent supernatural physician in all of Europe. It seems nothing can stand in her way—until her former lover shows up unannounced and quite unwanted.

Rafael Dracul is fiercely determined to regain Mina’s love after breaking her heart twenty years prior, but his plan is complicated by the fact that he’s being hunted by the Order—a shadowy organization now determined to stamp out the blood plague. If Rafael can’t clear his name, find the true origin of the plague, and convince Mina he’s a changed vampire, more than their future will be lost.

With the Order’s poisonous influence edging France ever closer to an all-out war between humans and vampires, Mina agrees to set aside her anger—if only to uncover the truth of the threats against her adopted homeland. But helping Rafael means getting close to him again, and soon she’s faced with an impossible choice—risk the lives of everyone she cares about, or risk her heart on forgiveness."