Get started with the first three books of the Dudes Adventure Chronicles unabridged in one complete volume. It's a digital box set for tweens or preteens! Easily navigate between books with the combined Table of Contents. Perfect for travel. 3 hilarious adventures for middle grade readers: Save the Dudes--Can the Dudes save Nate from the threat of private school? Dudes Take Over--See how the Dudes become kings of Sherwood Elementary and liberate a mega-weapon from the principal's closet. Summer of the Dudes--Know what to do in an emergency? Never fear, the Dudes are on the case! Five 5th-grade friends swing into action and Sherwood heights will never be the same! Middle-grade readers love the zany, action-packed, adventure! The Dudes Adventure Chronicles is a series of realistic but zany suburban adventures featuring a diverse group of boys who know how to make their own fun! For intermediate readers 8-12. Praise for Save the Dudes: "With one priceless, laugh-out-loud scenario after another, the mother and son team of Johnson and Reynolds delivers a fine tale... "...the story is given depth by emotional challenges each friend must face, described with subtlety. "Readers will likely be eager to read the next adventure. "Hilarious comic mayhem, rounded out by affection and insight." --Kirkus Reviews Situational humor without movie tie-ins or fart jokes! Appeals to kids who like funny, realistic fiction without a tacked-on message or ripped-from-the-headlines problem. Can be read as a series or in any order. Great choice for summer reading or family read-a-louds. Classic fun for modern kids! Save the Dudes: A Dude in peril? Operation Destiny is a go! A ninja stealth picnic? Supervillain jail? Zombie apocalypse anyone? The Dudes are on a mission to save Nate from the peril of private school. But code-names, battle training, and a camp-out of doom don't help as much as you'd think they would. Besides that, the girl next door has a teacup-sized pit bull, Tyler's mom has banned "screen time", and there's the rising cost of fake blood. Can the Dudes use inadvisable stunts and madcap plans to save the day? That's how they roll! Dudes Take Over: It’s 5th Grade, and the Dudes are ready to rule the school. The mission: Inflate the class economy, Rock down the walls, Race to the state capitol, and Take over the governor’s office. The Goal: To lay claim to the most powerful dart gun ever invented! You won’t want to miss Deven’s hilarious election speech, Jayden’s Dude-themed birthday bash, or the battle with baby-stealing bandits! You'll crack up when these five friends take on backyard downhill skiing, and a spy mission to the principal's office. Guard your garden gnome because Dudes are taking over! Summer of the Dudes: Leave No Dude Behind! It'll be a summer like no other. Luckily, the Dudes are prepared to take on: Being Lost at Sea! An Earthquake! Bigfoot! A Robot Invasion! And Teresa's pet Chihuahua! Don't miss the mayhem! Another suburban summer with nothing to do…unless you’re the Dudes! Come along as the Dudes become river rafting commandos, pull off a remote-controlled heist, and track a cryptid to its lair. Start your summer off with a laugh in Summer of the Dudes! WARNING: Evidence suggests that readers may imagine some resemblance between the Dudes’ parents and their own.
The Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington, North Carolina, is the setting of Tragic Souls of Love and War in the pre-Civil War era, during the Civil War, and after the war. The story is heavily based on facts of four strong women: Sarah Sampson, the Bellamy family’s slave cook; Belle Bellamy, the oldest Bellamy daughter; Mrs. Eliza Bellamy, the wife of Dr. John Bellamy; and Harriet Foote Hawley, the wife of Union general Joseph Roswell Hawley. She was an abolitionist and a first cousin of Harriet Beecher Stowe. The mix of these four women and the fictional and extraordinarily charismatic Braxton Scott twist into a story that captures the loves and sorrows of a tragic time in our history that resembles the classic Gone with the Wind and reminds us of the sad reality of inequality that still exists today.
Two strangers—one warm and human, the other deadly and craving—become pawns in an all-out vampire war as this series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightwalkers saga heats up. As an energy vampire, Halo enjoys the chase for human blood—if it’s pure and consensual. But Halo goes from hunter to hunted when he is knocked unconscious and taken hostage by vicious sycophants. As he comes to, he realizes that he’s naked, starving, and trapped in a sealed room. With him is a deliciously human female, tempting him to feed—except her blood is heady with the scent of poisonous drugs. Never has nourishment been so near, yet so far . . . and it’s all part of the sycophants’ sick game. The last thing Felice Mendoza remembers is everything going black. She awakens stripped, drugged, exposed, and alone—with a vampire. Halo is at once savage and tender, terrifying and alluring. Felice senses that her only chance to escape depends upon his survival. Given the choice between Halo and his enemies, Felice surrenders to his ravenous hunger. It’s a calculated risk—and a delirious pleasure. As Felice is ushered into a world as dangerous as it is desirable, their fight for deliverance is only the beginning. Don’t miss the first seductive Energy Vampires novel: THIRST Praise for Jacquelyn Frank’s World of Nightwalkers novels “A highly entertaining paranormal series.”—Fresh Fiction “If you loved the original Nightwalker books, you’ll enjoy this.”—USA Today, on Forsaken “Jacquelyn Frank uses a deft hand to weave the layers of this series together. . . . The love affairs have been wildly romantic with some very sensual love scenes.”—The Romance Reviews “The relationships in this series are intriguing. . . . The ancient struggle between two forces gives this story plenty of action and sizzle.”—RT Book Reviews, on Forever “As always, Frank excels in highlighting the lovers’ delight in exploring the strangeness of each other’s bodies.”—Publishers Weekly This ebook includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
Like the yearning, doomed young clones in Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, three teenagers with XP (a life-threatening allergy to sunlight) are a species unto themselves. As seen through the eyes of 16-year-old Allie Kim, they roam the silent streets, looking for adventure, while others sleep. When Allie's best friend introduces the trio to Parkour, the stunt-sport of running and climbing off forest cliffs and tall buildings (risky in daylight and potentially deadly by darkness), they feel truly alive, equal to the "daytimers." On a random summer night, while scaling a building like any other, the three happen to peer into an empty apartment and glimpse an older man with what looks like a dead girl. A game of cat-and-mouse ensues that escalates through the underground world of hospital confinement, off-the-grid sports, and forbidden love. Allie, who can never see the light of day, discovers she's the lone key to stopping a human monster.
Kira Brightwell knows how to take a punch. (Actually, she prefers throwing them.) Abduction, theft, murder… She faces all these crimes and more on her own terms as a private detective for hire. She also searches for any clues that might fulfill her quest for vengeance against the man known only as the Procurer. ...But a recent twist in circumstances leaves her rocked. The ongoing game of cat-and-mouse between Kira and the Procurer picks up the pace in this suspenseful fourth novel in the Kira Brightwell mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith.
Kira Brightwell enjoys two things—outsmarting bad guys and kicking ass. Well, that and listening to Nine Inch Nails. (Bonus, if she can manage all three at once.) She never expected anyone to call her a hero... But when life throws a punch, Kira always finds a way to hit back. This fast-paced starter collection includes the first three novels from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. (Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.): Split Decision (Kira Brightwell Book 1) Black and Blue (Kira Brightwell Book 2) Low Blow (Kira Brightwell Book 3) Split Decision (Kira Brightwell Book 1) Kira Brightwell never planned to become a private detective. Or a local hero, for that matter. She only wants to hone her MMA skills. And focus on her own personal need for vengeance and closure. While listening to Nine Inch Nails. But people call Kira a hero for a reason. She never walks away from trouble. And between her wits and her fists, she can take down just about anything that gets thrown her way. Meet Kira in action in this first novel in the Kira Brightwell mystery series. If you love a clever heroine who kicks ass, grab this book. Black and Blue (Kira Brightwell Book 2) Kira Brightwell hates to lose—in the MMA cage or outside of it. But her failure to capture the serial abductor known as the Procurer rankles most of all. Four months. Four months spent obsessing over the last time he slipped through her fingers with nothing to show for it. Time to move on—at least for the moment. (For her own sanity, if nothing else.) ...Easier said than done. This fast-paced, suspenseful novel pushes Kira deeper into uncharted territory as a problem solver for hire, with dangerous consequences. Follow the path of a clever heroine’s obsession in this second book from the Kira Brightwell mystery series. Low Blow (Kira Brightwell Book 3) Kira Brightwell knows how to take a punch. (Actually, she prefers throwing them.) Abduction, theft, murder… She faces all these crimes and more on her own terms as a private detective for hire. She also searches for any clues that might fulfill her quest for vengeance against the man known only as the Procurer. ...But a recent twist in circumstances leaves her rocked. The growing legend of abduction survivor and local hero Kira Brightwell takes an unexpected turn in this third novel in the Kira Brightwell mystery series.
Allie Kim’s fatal allergy to sunlight, XP, still confines her to the night. Now that she’s lost her best friend, Juliet, to an apparent suicide, the night has never felt darker—even with Rob at her side. Allie knows why Juliet killed herself: to escape the clutches of Garrett Tabor, whom Allie saw committing an unspeakable crime. Garrett is untouchable; the Tabors founded the world-famous XP clinic that keeps Allie and Rob alive and their small Minnesota town on the map. Allie can’t rest until Garrett is brought to justice. But her obsession jeopardizes everything she holds dear. Not even Parkour can distract her; nothing reminds her more that Juliet is gone. When Rob introduces Allie to the wildly dangerous sport of nighttime deep diving, Allie assumes he’s only trying to derail her investigation . . . until they uncover the terrible secret Garrett Tabor has hidden under Lake Superior.
“I see that as such a powerful testimony, since you’re not just singing a song but also telling a story, and it’s your own story.” Bennie Lucille Williams was born in Marshall, Texas—a city split not into two, she would argue, but into three. First, of course, there was racial segregation, but growing up with dark skin Bennie saw a second split within her own black community: a split between those who were lighter-skinned and those who looked like Bennie. There, sitting at the feet of former slaves, Bennie learned the songs that would carry her through her life. “Dem songs,” is what the woman she knew as Aunt Clay called spirituals they sang to her, and those songs would first carry her into music and then into teaching. Bennie recalls working with black, white, and later desegregated church choirs, teaching school choirs with forced busing mandates, and directing public performances. Woven into those stories are the loves and heartbreaks of a vivid and compassionate woman’s life—bittersweet at times, but never half-hearted. Bennie’s love for her music and for her students touched lives from Marshall to Dallas to Denver. Later, when she lay at home with a Do Not Resuscitate sign on her front door, she received calls from former students whose lives she had touched decades before, returning to her the love she had always given them.
A hidden society of vampires—and the humans they love—are at the heart of this opening novel in a biting, all-original series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightwalkers saga. Rafe DaSilva is an energy vampire, soaking up nourishment from the sun—and, only when necessary, drawing sweet sustenance from humans who are pure in body and spirit. As the right-hand man to his queen, Rafe is a key player at a historic peace summit in New York City, which will unite the vampire nations against a common threat: the sycophants, who feed on humanity and kill indiscriminately. But Rafe’s fascination with a beautiful blond police detective may put everything at risk. Detective Renee Holden has never worked a homicide quite like this. The victim has twin puncture wounds on his neck, and the only eyewitness swears she saw a vampire. Now’s definitely not the time to get distracted by a seductive stranger. But the suave, darkly austere, exotically handsome Rafe DaSilva is a hard man to deny, and as Renee falls under his spell, she also falls prey to his enemies. Desperate to protect her, Rafe lifts the veil on a shadow realm she can only visit—a world of intoxicating power, terrifying dangers, and forbidden pleasures. Praise for Thirst “With all the delicious alpha men (and equally awesome women), Thirst will renew your interest in vampire novels!”—RT Book Reviews (Top Pick) “Ms. Frank’s so-very-different and quirky take on familiar paranormal species keeps me coming back every time I hear she has a new release.”—The Good, The Bad and The Unread “Whenever I pick up a Jacquelyn Frank book I know I will find myself in an intriguing, beguiling world that I won’t want to leave. . . . If you are looking for a book that will hold you in its grip, with characters you will love and the perfect amount of romance with equally intriguing action, then Thirst is just what you need.”—Fresh Fiction “With Thirst, Frank takes us on a suspenseful, action-packed ride.”—Heroes and Heartbreakers “A lovely twist on a common story, Thirst gives us a slightly different spin on the vampires many of us love to read. . . . Add an unflappable, smart heroine to the mix with an action-packed murder mystery to solve and you’ve got hours of reading enjoyment.”—Kirkus Reviews “Thirst has a little bit of everything. . . . There are different elements at work in this story including great romance, . . . great friendships, what could be an evil mastermind and the rogue vampire issue. This first book of this series has set up this series for more exciting books to come.”—Romance Between the Sheets Praise for Jacquelyn Frank’s World of Nightwalkers novels “A highly entertaining paranormal series.”—Fresh Fiction “If you loved the original Nightwalker books, you’ll enjoy this.”—USA Today, on Forsaken “Jacquelyn Frank uses a deft hand to weave the layers of this series together. . . . The love affairs have been wildly romantic with some very sensual love scenes.”—The Romance Reviews “The relationships in this series are intriguing. . . . The ancient struggle between two forces gives this story plenty of action and sizzle.”—RT Book Reviews, on Forever Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
Kira Brightwell enjoys two things—outsmarting bad guys and kicking ass. Well, that and listening to Nine Inch Nails. (Bonus, if she can manage all three at once.) She never expected anyone to call her a hero... But when life throws a punch, Kira always finds a way to hit back. This fast-paced, starter collection includes three cases from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by award-winning author Jacquelyn Smith. (Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.): Split Decision: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 1) Striking Distance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Under Wraps: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel Split Decision: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 1) Kira Brightwell never planned to become a private detective. Or a local hero, for that matter. She only wants to hone her MMA skills. And focus on her own personal need for vengeance and closure. While listening to Nine Inch Nails. But people call Kira a hero for a reason. She never walks away from trouble. And between her wits and her fists, she can take down just about anything that gets thrown her way. Meet Kira in action in this first novel in the Kira Brightwell mystery series. If you love a clever heroine who kicks ass, grab this book. Striking Distance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Kira Brightwell stands at a crossroads. Her college days lie behind her, but her future remains a mystery, waiting to be solved. A job already awaits her at her father’s office—the easy, parent-approved option. But Kira wants something different. Something more. She needs to get away to figure out what. Except Kira’s future hangs in the balance in more ways than one... In the crime-filled cases of the Kira Brightwell series, “Striking Distance” focuses on the event that changes Kira’s life forever, and sets her on the path to becoming an infamous problem solver for hire. Under Wraps: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel Halloween. A time for costumes and crime. Neither hold interest for Kira Brightwell. She only wants to find a way to move on with her life after the trauma she endured three months ago. (That, and track down the man responsible.) But the local police receive an anonymous tip with a growing list of decrypted names—a list that threatens to shake the suburban, California town to its core. ...And just like that, Kira’s world gets turned upside down. A stand-alone short novel of Kira’s recent past in the Kira Brightwell mystery series. If you love murder, mystery, and mayhem, grab this book.
Kira Brightwell never planned to become a private detective. Or a local hero, for that matter. She only wants to hone her MMA skills. And focus on her own personal need for vengeance and closure. While listening to Nine Inch Nails. But people call Kira a hero for a reason. She never walks away from trouble. And between her wits and her fists, she can take down just about anything that gets thrown her way. Meet Kira in action in this first novel in the Kira Brightwell mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. If you love a clever heroine who kicks ass, grab this book. (Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.)
Mitchard's 'Still Summer' plunges into terror By Carol Memmott, USA TODAY Secure your life preserver. Tie yourself to the mast. It's late August, but it's still summer, and Jacquelyn Mitchard is taking you on a thrill ride you won't forget. Mitchard made her mark in the literary world in 1996 when TheDeep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first pick for Oprah Winfrey's now-legendary book club. Since then, she has written six other novels, but none matches the suspenseful pitch of Still Summer. It's a tale of terror on the high seas, but this is no Pirates of the Caribbean wannabe. Readers know something terrible is going to happen, but Mitchard ratchets up the suspense by allowing her story to unfold at a leisurely pace. She painstakingly fleshes out her characters, because as readers will discover, their temperaments and personalities are as crucial to the story as the mounting disasters. Tracy Kyle, Holly Solvig and Olivia Montefalco, lifelong friends in their early 40s, charter a yacht and two-man crew for a sailing vacation that will take them from St. Thomas to Grenada. The trip starts out as an innocent adventure in paradise until two accidents in quick succession strand the women without their crew. What else can go wrong? In a word, everything. The engine conks out, the sails are torn, lack of electricity spoils their food and limits their drinking water - and then there's the injury to Holly's leg. Nature's fury, murderous drug dealers and, possibly most deadly of all, their own frailties and secrets are added to the list. Readers will wring their hands with frustration, weep with sadness and second-guess the choices these women make. But since characters must do the bidding of the authors who create them, we can only sit back - or sit on the edge of our seats - and let Mitchard's terror-filled tale wash over us.
In the third book of the Midnight Twins trilogy, Mally and Merry?s supernatural dream visions are put to the test when their baby brother is kidnapped? and by someone who has grown very close to the Brynn family. Meanwhile, Meredith is distracted by the strange new boy in town. But there?s one problem with her new romance: he?s a ghost from the past, a boy who actually died in the Vietnam War and is struggling with his soul. Mallory must help her sister let go of a love that was never meant to be?and the twins must come together and use their powers to save their baby brother.
Joining the volunteer rescue effort in Brisbane after the Christmas Eve tsunami, American expat Frank Mercy is transformed by his rescue of a telepathic little boy, who he illegally takes back with him to America and struggles to protect.
In the second book of the Midnight Twins trilogy, Meredith and Mallory Brynn are finally coming to terms with their special gifts: Meredith to see into the past, Mallory to see into the future. But they never expect that their powers will reveal danger so close to home. Mallory must help her best friend, Eden, find the strength to defy her destiny as a shape-shifter, before Eden gets hurt?or hurts somebody else. And Merry has her own friends to worry about when her visions reveal trouble brewing on the cheerleading squad in the form of Kim Jellico. Mallory and Meredith must join together to rescue their friends before it?s too late.
Arlene was a very spirited soul, but untypically for a soul who lived in the heavenly plane, she wanted to go back down to the earth plane, for an unprecedented visit. This was not allowed of course, it had never been done before, but she did not care...she was going to go, whatever her soul-mate Simon or the “Great Lord’s of The Council” had to say. Claire Denton lived with her husband Mark in the small town of Horsham in West Sussex. She had three grown up children and lived a very ordinary life. She was exactly the type of soul that Arlene was looking for. The only way for Arlene to succeed in her dangerous scheme was to change places with some poor, unsuspecting soul, and in turn send that soul up to heaven in her place. Claire Denton filled the brief, and her life would be the perfect foil for Arlene’s misadventures. So will Claire make it through her ordeal? Will Claire’s family find out the truth of what is going on? And most of all will Arlene get her just rewards and get what she deserves for ruining the lives of the souls all around her? Join these two women and the people who will do their best to get them back to their rightful places, as they travel through the different realms of existence, and see how they cope with what life and the other soul’s conjure up for them.
Special Agent Tate Edison is a woman on a mission. Her life hasnt gone in the direction that she wants it to. She enjoys the challenges of the bombing investigation division but would rather be solving missing persons cases. Every time she tries to transfer they find a way to keep her in her division. Her office isnt exactly stress free. One of her co-workers is an ex-boyfriend. Then her assistant director sends her to Coronado to enlist the help of someone named Aidan Blayne. In Coronado, shes a little surprised to find that the address is on a naval base and that the man shes looking for is actually a Navy SEAL master chief. After securing his cooperation, she heads home to Jacksonville to track down more leads on her serial bomber. As soon as the man shows up, he does everything possible to get under her skin. Offhanded remarks, starting fights between her and her ex, showing up unexpectedly. Anything possible to get a rise out of her. Even trying to get her case handed off to CID the military investigations division when they realize that the bomber has a military background. One thing she figures out about Aidan Blayne though is that he is a force to be reckoned with and when he wants results, he gets them. After all the arguments, their attraction to one another is more than mutual and leads to more than just an explosive reaction. They delve into each others lives finding more than a common bond. Though they both have a problem with giving orders and expecting them to be carried out. Tate definitely enjoys the dance of seduction though as long as its Aidan taking the lead, corrupting her in some of the most sinful ways. His skill for combat obviously allows him to slide past her walls of protection to steal her heart.
Masterful...A big story about human connection and emotional survival" - Los Angeles Times The first book ever chosen by Oprah's Book Club Few first novels receive the kind of attention and acclaim showered on this powerful story—a nationwide bestseller, a critical success, and the first title chosen for Oprah's Book Club. Both highly suspenseful and deeply moving, The Deep End of the Ocean imagines every mother's worst nightmare—the disappearance of a child—as it explores a family's struggle to endure, even against extraordinary odds. Filled with compassion, humor, and brilliant observations about the texture of real life, here is a story of rare power, one that will touch readers' hearts and make them celebrate the emotions that make us all one.
A "heartbreaking, heartwarming" (Heidi McLaughlin, New York Times bestselling author) love story that asks the question: what do you do when your soul mate marries your best friend? If you're Kate Evans, you keep your friend Rachel, bond with her kids, and bury your feelings for her husband. The fact that Shane's in the military and away for long periods helps-but when tragedy strikes, everything changes. After Rachel, pregnant with her fourth child, dies in a car accident and the baby miraculously survives, Kate upends her entire life to share parenting duties. Then on the first anniversary of Rachel's death, Kate and Shane take comfort in each other in a night that they both soon regret. Shane's been angry for a year, and now he feels guilty too - for sleeping with his wife's best friend and liking it . . . liking her. Kate's ability to read him like a book may have once sent Shane running, but their lives are forever entwined and they are growing closer. Now with Shane deployed for seven months, Kate is on her own and struggling with being a single parent. Shane is loving and supportive from thousands of miles away, but his homecoming brings a betrayal Kate never saw coming. So Kate's only choice is to fight for the future she deserves - with or without Shane. . .
They've spent their lives pushing each other away, but what will happen when they need each other most? Anita Martin doesn't expect much from life. Growing up on the street, bouncing from one foster home to another, she learned to rely only on herself. Even after she finally found a loving family to take her in, she was still an outsider-something Abraham, one of the family's older sons, never let her forget. Abraham Evans doesn't know how Ani always manages to get under his skin, only that's she's been doing it since they were teens. She is-and always has been-undeniably gorgeous. But he's never met anyone as pissed off at the world as Ani. For fifteen years, Ani and Bram have agreed on exactly one thing: they can't stand each other-until one night when their anger gives way to passion. Yet even as Ani and Bram begin to secretly seek comfort in one another's arms, they remain emotionally worlds apart. When Ani's life takes a dramatic turn and she realizes she needs more than Bram can give, their fragile, no-strings relationship unravels. One way or another, Ani is determined to survive. But when Bram finally admits his true feelings, he may discover Ani has moved on without him . . .
Arley Mowbray is young, smart, and lonely. Very lonely. And then she strikes up a correspondence with a prison inmate—and, under the spell of his poetic, seductive letters, falls helplessly, stubbornly in love. Annie Singer is a tough, dedicated Texas lawyer hired to help Arley unite with her beloved. She does so, but against her own better judgment—and soon she’s caught up in this disturbing and dangerous romance, and in her feelings for Arley, who’s become the daughter she never had. When Dillon LeGrande comes after the girl he loves, Arley finds herself both aching for his touch and fearing for her life. And Annie begins to question her own choices—and to wonder what price she would pay for passion.
New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard’s novels, with their riveting stories and unforgettable characters, have won the hearts of millions of readers. Now, from the author of The Deep End of the Ocean and No Time to Wave Goodbye, comes the fierce and moving tale of one woman’s fight for her identity and her life when fate holds out a second chance. Sicily Coyne was just thirteen when her father was killed in a school fire that left her face disfigured. Twelve years later, a young surgeon, Eliza Cappadora, offers hope in the form of a revolutionary new surgery that may give Sicily back the grace and function she lost. Raised by a dynamic, tenacious aunt who taught her to lead a normal life, and engaged to a wonderful man who knew her long before the accident, Sicily rejects the offer: She knows who she is, and so do the people who love her. But when a secret surfaces that shatters Sicily’s carefully constructed world, she calls off the wedding and agrees to the radical procedure in order to begin a new life. Her beauty restored virtually overnight, Sicily rushes toward life with open arms, seeking new experiences, adventures, and, most of all, love. But she soon discovers that her new face carries with it risks that no one could have imagined. Confronting a moral and medical crisis that quickly becomes a matter of life and death, Sicily is surrounded by experts and loving family, but the choice that will transform her future, for better or worse, is one she must make alone. An intense and moving story of courage, consequence, and possibility, Second Nature showcases the acclaimed storyteller at her very best.
This Life I've Bled is the painfully honest true story of small town girl's symbolically bloody, stigmatized life relating her experiences with alcoholism, drug addiction, religion, mental health issues, bisexuality, abortion, divorce, and the accidental loss of all three of her children, two of whom died ten days apart in 2015. As depressing as that sounds, the story is infused with humour as quirky as the author herself and is intended as a hopeful handbook on how to survive a life on planet earth.
So close. Kira Brightwell knows the Procurer lurks almost within her grasp. But the abductor for hire has always remained one step ahead. Can Kira finally outwit him? ...And what will happen if she does? The ongoing game of cat and mouse between Kira and the Procurer reaches its breaking point in this sixth collection of cases from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith: Cornered: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 6) Lucky Punch: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Lights Out: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Cornered: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 6) Kira Brightwell knows where to find the Procurer. Finally, after four long years, a level playing field. But the serial abductor knows how to cover his tracks. And any animal can become even more dangerous when cornered. Kira’s hard-won window of opportunity to capture the Procurer remains narrow in a race against the clock. Kira’s other problem? Someone else wants to find him first. The ongoing battle of wits between Kira and the Procurer comes to a head in this tense sixth novel in the Kira Brightwell mystery series. Lucky Punch: A Kira Brightwell Short Story A nice, relaxing vacation. After all the mystery and mayhem over the past several months, a tropical getaway seems like just what Kira Brightwell needs. With only her best friend for company and no one back home aware of their location (detective friend, persistent sidekick, and nosy reporters included), Kira can finally unwind and try to forget. Maybe enjoy a cool, refreshing cocktail on the beach. But wherever Kira goes, trouble always follows only a step behind. A stand-alone story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series. If you enjoy a fun, tropical escapade, grab this book. Lights Out: A Kira Brightwell Short Story A crowded mall, the week before Christmas. Definitely not Kira Brightwell’s idea of a good time. After a long year of difficult—and often dangerous—cases, the bustle and noise jangle her nerves. She resists the temptation to lash out at shoppers who bump into her with their purchases. Not worth the effort. Especially compared to the criminals she usually deals with. But Kira can find trouble anywhere. ...And a new case waits to be unwrapped. A stand-alone holiday story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series.
America the beautiful. It is truly a beautiful country, comprised of hundreds and hundreds of unique cities, towns, communities, villages – all situated and spread out randomly in this wilderness, this land designated as the United States. It seemed so that we can find our way about, locating each other and finding those not lost, we identify spaces by selective names to coincide with the numerical values made possible for mapping out space. Some spaces are more populated and better known than others. Our country is divided into segments called states. There are fifty, not all attached, and they each have their own name. The subject of this book is primarily one southern state called Mississippi. Further restricted to a smaller area a town called Harlem. Harlem is like many other towns within Mississippi, yet special. It is special because their people are special, check for yourself... Like all other areas this town – Harlem really exist and is populated by people some nice, others not so nice. Generally, space and areas remain constant. It is the people that change, bringing alteration to the area they inhabit. The Harlem of yesterday is not the Harlem of today and will not be the Harlem of tomorrow. Which one do you prefer? Review the many different Harlem auras, select your choice. Areas often dictates how people react. Weather controls the life cycle to some degree, the mode of travel and the ease of reaching those thereat determines who and why some people remain. Spend time in Harlem, Mississippi meet its regular residents, walk its streets. Get to know Alphonso Poole, Carlton Baisley, Andrew MacFarley, William Alcorn, BoRabbit and Wanda Richardson. Go to work with Clyde, Rosalind, Claudia and Clinton; find out who was a sociopath, and who transgendered. Commiserate with the needs of the lost while celebrating with the honored and praised... Like the deep south, before television became the rave as a household entertainment media, or babysitter as well as for the senior citizen’s companion and lifeline. Find out what occupied poor people’s time. Who made money, why, and how. You may never find the true answers but you might learn that and more traveling around in Harlem. There are mighty people there in Harlem, come put your feet up, stay awhile. You might be surprised. At least some of the creeping eternal boredom might be released. Jacquelyn has painted a picture of several ordinary everyday people who desired change and through trial and error; hit and miss, brought change to their lives. Was the change noteworthy? Was the change good or bad? Check for yourself. Right there in Harlem; change is very evident real, and good, bad or indifferent. Check those that pulled change out of the bag and see who will reap what they ultimately sow in HARLEM... I know you will grow to love some of those dear hearts and not so gentle people. Check and see. Do you want change in your life? It’s here waiting for you – Harlem might be your starting point, just open this book...
Kira Brightwell hates to lose—in the MMA cage or outside of it. But her failure to capture the serial abductor known as the Procurer rankles most of all. Four months. Four months spent obsessing over the last time he slipped through her fingers with nothing to show for it. Time to move on—at least for the moment. (For her own sanity, if nothing else.) ...Easier said than done. This fast-paced, suspenseful novel pushes Kira deeper into uncharted territory as a problem solver for hire, with dangerous consequences. Follow the path of a clever heroine’s obsession in this second book from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. (Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.)
Kira Brightwell never means to get tangled in other people’s problems. She already has enough on her plate since the narrow escape of the serial abductor known as the Procurer. But nothing can stop trouble from coming her way in one form or another. And the actions of her past cast long shadows. Kira’s life gets more complicated in this second collection of cases from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith: Black and Blue: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 2) Clean Break: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel On the Card: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Black and Blue: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 2) Kira Brightwell hates to lose—in the MMA cage or outside of it. But her failure to capture the serial abductor known as the Procurer rankles most of all. Four months. Four months spent obsessing over the last time he slipped through her fingers with nothing to show for it. Time to move on—at least for the moment. (For her own sanity, if nothing else.) ...Easier said than done. This fast-paced, suspenseful novel pushes Kira deeper into uncharted territory as a problem solver for hire, with dangerous consequences. Follow the path of a clever heroine’s obsession in this second book from the Kira Brightwell mystery series. (Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.) Clean Break: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel Kira Brightwell needs a change of scenery. A relaxing, solo trip to Toronto to visit her grandparents seems like a good idea. No nosy reporters, no criminals to take down, and (most importantly) no self-appointed sidekick Trevor Wright. ...But from the moment Kira steps off the plane from California, nothing goes according to plan. A stand-alone short novel misadventure from the Kira Brightwell mystery series. On the Card: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Kira Brightwell needs to pay. A problem solver for hire and local hero in her own right, Kira never sought any acclaim for her actions. She only wants to track down the man who abducted her three years ago. And maybe celebrate her birthday with some ice cream cake. But even an unintentional path to prominence comes with collateral damage. ...And some people can never forgive and forget. A fast-paced, stand-alone story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series.
From the author of Unbreak My Heart comes a heart-wrenching story about a young married couple's struggle to find their way back to each other after an unbearable loss --Nicole Jacquelyn delivers a novel that will break your heart in all the best ways. Alex Evans is cool. Collected. Charismatic as hell. But when he meets Sarai Levy, all that chill goes right out the door. As a graduate student, Sarai's far too busy with school to date. But she gives Alex a chance anyway, and after a few whirlwind months, they're getting married. They've heard all the reasons why it's too soon, but Alex and Sarai are madly in love and determined to make it work . . . until a devastating tragedy strikes and their perfect world comes crashing down. Sarai, who always has a plan, suddenly has no blueprint for handling a staggering loss. As she pulls away from Alex and withdraws from her life, he's struggling to be the man she needs. Their relationship is fraying at the seams, and if Alex and Sarai don't find a way to trust each other with their most painful truths, their heartache could shatter their fairy tale romance.
“Rich and complex, The Good Son is a compelling novel about the aftermath of a crime in a small, close-knit community.”—Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard comes the gripping, emotionally charged novel of a mother who must help her son after he is convicted of a devastating crime. What do you do when the person you love best becomes unrecognizable to you? For Thea Demetriou, the answer is both simple and agonizing: you keep loving him somehow. Stefan was just seventeen when he went to prison for the drug-fueled murder of his girlfriend, Belinda. Three years later, he’s released to a world that refuses to let him move on. Belinda’s mother, once Thea’s good friend, galvanizes the community to rally against him to protest in her daughter’s memory. The media paints Stefan as a symbol of white privilege and indifferent justice. Neighbors, employers, even some members of Thea's own family turn away. Meanwhile Thea struggles to understand her son. At times, he is still the sweet boy he has always been; at others, he is a young man tormented by guilt and almost broken by his time in prison. But as his efforts to make amends meet escalating resistance and threats, Thea suspects more forces are at play than just community outrage. And if there is so much she never knew about her own son, what other secrets has she yet to uncover—especially about the night Belinda died?
Kira Brightwell just wants to mind her own business. Maybe go for a run, or hone her MMA skills while blasting some Nine Inch Nails. She never goes looking for trouble. But somehow, trouble always seems to find her. Usually the missing woman or dead body kind. ...Good thing she knows how to use her wits, as well as her fists. Dive into the ongoing cases of a clever detective who kicks ass in this starter collection of early, stand-alone Kira Brightwell shorts by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. (These adventures complement the novels of the Kira Brightwell mystery series, and all take place before the first novel, Split Decision.) This collection includes: Tale of the Tape: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel Striking Distance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Under Wraps: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel Tale of the Tape: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel A bootleg Nine Inch Nails cassette tape. Weird thing for Kira to find abandoned by a sewer grate on her way to school. The hand-drawn NIN logo in marker catches Kira’s eye. Who tossed the tape? And why? Kira pockets it, of course. Seems a shame to leave it in the gutter. Who knows what kind of extra tracks she might find on it? ...Now she only needs to figure out a way to play the thing. A twisting, short novel of Kira’s high school past from the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series. Striking Distance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Kira Brightwell stands at a crossroads. Her college days lie behind her, but her future remains a mystery, waiting to be solved. A job already awaits her at her father’s office—the easy, parent-approved option. But Kira wants something different. Something more. She needs to get away to figure out what. Except Kira’s future hangs in the balance in more ways than one… In the crime-filled adventures of the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series, “Striking Distance” focuses on the event that changes Kira’s life forever, and sets her on the path to becoming an infamous problem solver for hire. (Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.) Under Wraps: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel Halloween. A time for costumes and crime. Neither hold interest for Kira Brightwell. She only wants to find a way to move on with her life after the trauma she endured three months ago. (That, and track down the man responsible.) But the local police receive an anonymous tip with a growing list of decrypted names—a list that threatens to shake the suburban, California town to its core. ...And just like that, Kira’s world gets turned upside down. A stand-alone short novel of Kira’s recent past in the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series. If you love murder, mystery, and mayhem, grab this book. (Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard comes a page-turning family drama that explores the emotional consequences of loyalty, deception and jealousy. Stunned by her recently widowed father’s reckless behavior, a young woman must learn to navigate a new world—where the people she should trust the most have become strangers she cannot trust at all. Frankie Attleboro returns home to Cape Cod with thrilling news. She’s met the love of her life, and they’re getting married with a baby on the way. That’s the moment her father makes his own jaw-dropping announcement: at sixty, he’s getting married as well, to Frankie’s best friend, Ariel, who is also pregnant, and due soon. As Frankie and Ariel struggle to adjust to their new relationship, Ariel’s estranged mother, Carlotta, returns after a decade-long absence. She claims to be a changed woman—but is she really? And where has she been all these years? Frankie is suspicious, and as Carlotta’s unpredictable behavior intensifies, Frankie must untangle the threads of the past to protect Ariel’s future—and her own. "The characters and relationships are all smartly drawn, and the narrative is shot through with plenty of humor and scandal. Mitchard fans will lap this up."—Publishers Weekly
Halloween. A time for costumes and crime. Neither hold interest for Kira Brightwell. She only wants to find a way to move on with her life after the trauma she endured three months ago. (That, and track down the man responsible.) But the local police receive an anonymous tip with a growing list of decrypted names—a list that threatens to shake the suburban, California town to its core. ...And just like that, Kira’s world gets turned upside down. A stand-alone short novel of Kira’s recent past in the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. If you love murder, mystery, and mayhem, grab this book. (This adventure takes place before the Kira Brightwell novel Split Decision. Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.)
Nice Victorian ladies don’t run off to find legendary lost cities. One trifling little arrest shouldn’t have cost Ellie Mallory her job, but it’s only the latest in a line of injustices facing any educated woman with archaeological ambitions. When Ellie stumbles across the map to a mysterious ancient city, she knows she’s holding her chance to revolutionize Pre-Colombian history. There’s just one teensy complication. A ruthless villain wants it, and Ellie is all that stands in his way. To race him to the ruins—and avoid being violently disposed of—she needs the help of maverick surveyor Adam Bates, a snake-wrangling rogue who can’t seem to keep his dratted shirt on. But there’s more than Ellie’s scholarly reputation (and life) on the line. Her enemies aren’t just looters. They’re after an arcane secret rumored to lie in the heart of the ruins, a mythical artifact with a power that could shake the world. Between stealing trousers, plummeting over waterfalls, and trying not to fall in love with her machete-wielding partner, will Ellie be able to stop the oracle of a lost empire from falling into the wrong hands? Empire of Shadows is the first book in the Raiders of the Arcana series, rip-roaring historical fantasy adventures perfect for fans of Romancing the Stone and The Mummy. "Sassy banter and sizzling romantic tension sparkle throughout the fast-paced action ... Fans of Indiana Jones-style historical fantasies will be eager for the next adventure." - Booklist of the American Library Association "A feminist, anti-colonialist tour-de-force, a pulse-pounding adventure tale, and a compelling, spirited romance all in one." - Charlotte English, author of the House of Werth series "A page-turning historical fantasy romp ... Adam Bates somehow becomes more attractive with every extra layer of dirt." - Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul
BONUS: This edition contains a No Time to Wave Goodbye discussion guide and an excerpt from Jacquelyn Mitchard's Second Nature. Twenty-two years have passed since Beth Cappadora’s three-year-old son, Ben, was abducted. By some miracle he returned nine years later, and the family began to pick up the pieces of their lives. Now, in this sequel to Mitchard’s beloved bestseller The Deep End of the Ocean, the Cappadora children are grown: Ben is married and has a baby girl, Kerry is studying to be an opera singer, and ne’er-do-well older son Vincent is a fledgling filmmaker. His new documentary—focusing on five families caught in the torturous web of never knowing the fate of their abducted children—shakes his parents to the core. As Vincent’s film earns greater and greater acclaim and Beth tries to stave off a torrent of long-submerged emotions, the Cappadoras’ world is rocked as Beth’s greatest fear becomes reality. The family is soon drawn precipitously into the past, revisiting the worst moment of their lives—this time with only hours to find the truth that can save a life. A spellbinding novel about family loyalty and love pushed to the limits of endurance, No Time to Wave Goodbye is Jacquelyn Mitchard at her best.
This book discusses the relationship between compassion and peace with a special emphasis on the role that therapy and education can play in promoting a state of affairs in which, as humanity becomes more compassionate, peace becomes more possible.
Black Magic is a story of true love and it's struggles. An eternal forbidden love, laced with magic and dark secrets. Ancient myths and voodoo curses come to life in this gothic page-turner. London Illelo knows Derik is the most beautiful man she's ever seen and that their love is strong enough to last centuries, but will his dark past and secrets about who he really is break love everlasting? Embark on a journey of passionate love and breathtaking magic in this captivating novel. But prepare yourselfanything can happen.
Failed an exam, bungled an interview, screwed up a relationship, broken your diet, or stuffed up at work? Your brain is the key to getting back on track. Learn from five leading psychological educators how to ‘rubberise’ your brain to optimise your thinking using simple tools derived from solid science. Change your life for the better.
Sheryl Bayliss, is head of public relations for Hittite Chemicals. When Hittite's lawyer, Jim Kirsten, suggests that it is her department's job to meet and reassure the head of the local environmentalist group of Hittite Chemicals good intentions, Sheryl discovers it is her ex-fiance Jed Hollis she has to meet. Discovering that someone is deliberately manipulating the Greenies into turning radical, Sheryl and Jed need to work together to find out who is laundering bribes and payouts. But can they get past resurfacing attraction and unresolved relationship issues to get the job done?
From New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Frank comes this first book in The World of the Nightwalkers—an exciting and sensual new spin-off series in which the Bodywalkers, an ancient race of the night, battles the evil forces who prey on them. The unexpected happens in an instant. On her way to work, secretary Docia Waverley hurtles into a crashing crossroads, and she quickly begins to suspect that things will never be the same. Then, when a tall, blond, muscular stranger intervenes on her behalf, telling her it is his duty to protect her at all cost, what is just a feeling turns to proof positive. That is, as long as Docia’s savior doesn’t turn out to be a crazed kidnapper. When Ram finds Docia, he has no doubt that she is his queen. But as this golden warrior sweeps in to protect her, he feels something more than body heat every time they touch. He is overwhelmed by a searing connection that goes deep into the twin souls inside him. A desire rises in him that is forbidden—this woman is his queen, the mate of his king, his leader, his best friend. And yet Docia is so vulnerable and attractive that she awakens a hunger in Ram that is undeniable, a carnal craving he cannot yield to . . . not without risking the very survival of the Bodywalkers.
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