. . if only for a little while.   In an age when it’s the rare child who walks to school on his own, the thought of sending your “little ones” off to sleep-away camp can be overwhelming—for you and for them. But parents’ first instinct—to shelter their offspring above all else—is actually depriving kids of the major developmental milestones that occur through letting them go—and watching them come back transformed.   In Homesick and Happy, renowned child psychologist Michael Thompson, PhD, shares a strong argument for, and a vital guide to, this brief loosening of ties. A great champion of summer camp, he explains how camp ushers your children into a thrilling world offering an environment that most of us at home cannot: an electronics-free zone, a multigenerational community, meaningful daily rituals like group meals and cabin clean-up, and a place where time simply slows down. In the buggy woods, icy swims, campfire sing-alongs, and daring adventures, children have emotionally significant and character-building experiences; they often grow in ways that surprise even themselves; they make lifelong memories and cherished friends. Thompson shows how children who are away from their parents can be both homesick and happy, scared and successful, anxious and exuberant. When kids go to camp—for a week, a month, or the whole summer—they can experience some of the greatest maturation of their lives, and return more independent, strong, and healthy.

    Winters is back with an all-new collaborator, legendary Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, and the result is Android Karenina an enhanced edition of the classic love story set in a dystopian world of robots, cyborgs, and interstellar space travel.As in the original novel, our story follows two relationships: the tragic adulterous romance of Anna Karenina and Count Alexei Vronsky, and the much more hopeful marriage of Konstantin Levin and Kitty Shcherbatskaya.These four, yearning for true love, live in a steampunk-inspired 19th century of mechanical butlers, extraterrestrial-worshiping cults, and airborne debutante balls. Their passions alone would be enough to consume them-but when a secret cabal of radical scientific revolutionaries launches an attack on Russian high society's high-tech lifestyle, our heroes must fight back with all their courage, all their gadgets, and all the power of a sleek new cyborg model like nothing the world has ever seen."Filled with the same blend of romance, drama, and fantasy that made the first two Quirk Classics New York Times best sellers, Android Karenina brings this celebrated series into the exciting world of science fiction.

    Her adoptive parents watch her obsessively, as if studying her for warning signs of…something. And maybe they’re right to—even she can’t make sense of the strange things she sees and hears. She possesses knowledge that other teenagers don’t, that her parents and teachers—no adult—could possibly have. So when Sage finally makes a friend who understands her alarming gift, he becomes her confidant, a precarious link to the truth about who she really is. For Sage and the alluring new boy at school share many things in common. Perhaps, they’ll learn, far too many things.

    There’s been no trace or sighting of her since she vanished, so when Lil sees a girl lying in the road near her house she thinks for a heart-stopping moment that it’s Mella.The girl is injured and disorientated and Lil has no choice but to take her home, even though she knows something’s not right. The girl claims she’s from a peaceful community called The Sisterhood of the Light, but why then does she have strange marks down her arms, and what—or who—is she running from?

    Nev has become the Dr. Drew of online relationships. His clout in this area springs from his own experience with a deceptive online romance, about which he made a critically acclaimed 2010 documentary (also called Catfish). In that film Nev coined the term "catfish" to refer to someone who creates a false online persona to reel someone into a romantic relationship. The meme spread rapidly. Now Nev brings his expertise to the page, sharing insider secrets about:-what motivates catfish -why people fall for catfish -how you can avoid being deceived-rules for dating -- both online and off -how to connect authentically with others over the internet -how to turn an online relationship into a real-life relationship ...and much, much more.Peppered throughout with Nev's personal stories, this book delves deeply into the complexities of online identity. Nev shows us how our digital lives are affecting our real lives, and provides essential advice about how we should all be living and loving in the era of social media.

    Sarah's renowned for being a deaf cellist, when in truth she uses her instrument as a shield against maddening noises like a fly a continent away. Dan can see the dust on Pluto, but can only see his hands through a haze of tears. (He’s in therapy.) Carly can smell everything to the point that cocaine is needed to dull the sense, and Zack can break down the ingredients in Col. Sanders’ secret KFC recipe, so he numbs his tongue by drinking - a lot. With the pain and isolation their crippling senses cause, all four haven given up on being normal - and the only thing that keeps them from madness is the hope that they’re not alone.Their hope is justified when they become aware of each other during a mysterious event that causes them to briefly swap bodies. They set out to meet; however, something else wants to find them, too. A monster in the guise of a teenager that calls itself the Guardian and wants their abilities for itself. When Dan inadvertently has a flashback to a previous life, they realize that they`re at the end of a roller coaster ride of multiple reincarnations spanning all of history - and that the Guardian has hunted them through each of their lives. To survive in the present, they must relive their brutal clashes with the monster to discover its weakness in the hope of making their next encounter with it the last.

    Subsequent to his father's troubles spilling over into their home-life, he and his mother migrated to the United States when Deon was only six years old. For the two immigrants, making a living in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn was not an easy task. Suhati, his mother, worked extremely hard trying to sustain a stable lifestyle and shield Deon from all the negativity that surrounded them. After an altercation Deon got into with a bully at school he befriended a neighborhood hustler by the name of Jayson "Jay-Roc" Washington. Jay-Roc familiarized Deon with the street-life and schooled him on the necessary skills needed to survive in the concrete jungle. He taught him that fear equals control and Deon soon adapted to his environment like a chameleon. It didn't take long before Deon became immersed in the exact same lifestyle his mother once tried to shelter him from. He was taking steps in the same shoes his father had previously walked in, down that similar extended road to danger and he was too blind to realize it. When he finally opens his eyes to what life is really about, is it too late? KING is a grimy, heart felt, street tale of lust, envy, and hate. When the pressure is applied, only the strong will subsist and everything done in the shadows will come to light. Love is blind, karma is real, and vengeance is the sweetest joy. How long will it take Deon to learn that jealousy destroys from within? Brace yourself for the ride of your life. He who embraces the crown is considered KING!

    Cheap whiskey has been his only escape from the demons that haunt his nights. But that escape has come with a heavy price. He’s lost his sergeant’s stripes and his good name, due mostly to a hard-nosed Lieutenant named Welch. How much should a man be expected to take? It’s tempting to desert and leave it all behind, but would life be any better? He’s about to find out.

     Broken by a year of battling Daniel’s depression, Raine never looked back. However, she didn’t bank on receiving the surprise of her life a month later when she found out she was carrying Daniel’s child. Nine years later, Raine is a successful businesswoman, raising her eight-year-old daughter as a single mom. She kept her daughter’s existence a carefully guarded secret, not wanting to raise her with two parents who didn’t love each other. There was just one problem with that. She never stopped loving Daniel. When he walks back into her life one afternoon, Raine has no choice but to reveal the fact that he’s a father. Despite his anger and resentment towards Raine, he can’t deny a growing attraction for her. As Raine and Daniel struggle over how to best raise their daughter together, they begin to discover that the spark of a love they thought long dead ignites a fire in both of them. Can Daniel and Raine get over their past or will the secrets they’ve kept, as well as Daniel’s new found success, destroy them? **** This is a standalone Novella with a HEA **** Your copy of "The Billionaire's Shocking Daughter" (approximately 33,000 words) includes a BONUS BOOK by Izabella Brooks

    A sexy rags to riches romance.Antique shop owner Celia Whyte comes from an impeccable lineage and a mother who thinks she has the right to manage her daughter’s entire life.So when Celia meets the self-made billionaire hunk Brady Gilmore, of course she worries her mother will make a scene!Brady has gone from rags to riches all on his own, but to Celia’s mother, he will always be lower class…But that won’t stop Celia and Brady’s relationship from getting hot and heavy!Yet when family and friends scheme against them, everything turns upside down!Will it be the wedge that will drive Brady and Celia apart?Or will they find love through all of life’s battles?Find out in this emotional yet sexy romance by Erica A Davis of BWWM Club.Suitable for over 18s only due to shockingly hot sex scenes!

    He is a rescue dog with a difficult past who loves other dogs, is frightened of people and cars and mesmerised by cats and rabbits. It is partly told through his eyes and describes how what he has experienced before has affected how he interacts with those around him. Entwined with his story, Clare, his new owner and the author of this book, who has a total of over 30 years experience of working with animals and teaching veterinary nursing and animal care and welfare, tells of the joys of having him as a companion and how, through gentle nurturing, his whole outlook on life has changed. She also writes with a great deal of passion about the pitfalls of a society that has resulted in Ralph being the way he is, and of some of the other issues that are contributing to the problems faced by dogs today. By the author of 'Lilac Haze' - a true story about organ donation, love, loss and hope...

    This study guide includes the following sections: Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.

    But Maddie soon tires of her house guests, including her own boisterous rescue Boxer dog, Baxter. A trip to the park proves eventful, when Baxter literally bumps into Dylan. Kind, funny, and not-too-shabby in the looks department, Dylan soon wins Ellie and Jake over, and Ellie dares to dream of a happy ending at last. But as the snow starts to fall and Christmas approaches, Ellie realises time is running out for them. Dylan clearly has a secret that may ruin their happiness, Baxter's home is in jeopardy, and she has no way of making Jake's wishes come true. Must Ellie give up on her dreams, or can Baxter lead her back to happiness? Light the fire, switch on those Christmas tree lights, curl up with a hot chocolate, and enjoy this heart-warming festive story of love, home, and second chances.

    "Measure of a Life: Memoirs, Insights and Philosophies of LeRoy E. Hoffberger" is not only one man's personal story; it's a deeply compelling American story, steeped in Baltimore history. From father to businessman, lawyer, Broadway investor and champion of the arts to found of innovative organizations - Hoffberger has proven that a rich life is one that is lived in service to others.

    James Melville-Ross, their father, tells of how the twins not only survived—despite being given the last rites as babies—but also thrived. From the dramatic first few months of the twins’ lives—when Alice suffered a heart attack when only a day old, and Thomas’s lungs filled with blood, leaving him only 20 minutes away from death—Two for Joy reveals the path that James and his wife Georgie have followed as parents to two severely disabled children. After the initial anger came the sheer hard work: the sleepless nights; the hospital dashes; the curious stares and unwelcome comment from strangers. But slowly came acceptance and, eventually, celebration of the joy that the medical marvels Thomas and Alice—now happy and energetic ten year olds—have brought to their lives. Finally they understood that disability might have turned their world upside down, but that it has also provided rewards beyond anything they could have imagined. This story is for any parent experiencing the shock of having extremely premature babies or coming to terms with having a child diagnosed with a disability. More than that, this story will change people’s attitudes to disability, and show that love and true happiness can be found in even the most challenging of circumstances.