After losing everything and having no choice but to move back to her childhood home just in time for the festive season, Effie has finally reached rock bottom. But maybe this year, something – or someone – can make Effie believe in Christmas all over again… One December night three years ago, Effie Thomas’s life was turned upside down when she discovered the truth about her cheating fiancé, Todd. Since then, her life has basically been a series of unfortunate events, culminating in one awful day in which she loses both her job and her home. There is nothing for it but to return home to her mother’s poky little cottage in the sleepy village of Effisham. Effie, a self-professed Christmas hater is forced to accept the first job she can find… which just happens to be working as an elf in a grotto at the local garden centre. She is immediately driven mad by Jack, the happy-go-lucky “Head Elf” who doesn’t take life too seriously… but he also makes her laugh. And he just happens to be extremely good-looking. Effie begins to wonder if Jack might be the one who can help her forget Todd.Effie is surprised when she actually starts enjoying herself – and when the grotto is vandalised and she rebuilds it overnight, she discovers she might actually have a hidden talent for design. When more visitors than ever come to the garden centre, Effie wonders if finally, at the age of 28, she can at last make her mother proud.Ah yes, Effie’s mum… determined to set Effie up with a nice lad from the village. But not everyone is what they may seem. It seems everyone has a secret – Jack included. And can Effie forgive and forget when Todd arrives back on the scene full of regret and promises?For Effie, Christmas is the season of hurt and heartbreak, even if everyone else is celebrating joy and goodwill. Surely it’s about time she turned it all around?The perfect festive romantic comedy to curl up with in front of the fire.

    Learn more in The Collector.Some things seem ordinary to the naked eye, but sometimes a camera catches things invisible to the naked eye. This one will give you chills in It's Only A Photo.

    My father, Quincy, alongside his twin brother Quintin is known to the world as the leaders of the Taylor Cartel. Expensive cars, designer bags, shoes, and clothes, don’t excite me. That’s probably why I haven’t met a man yet who could hold my attention. Most think because I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth that I’m one of those prissy broads. But I’m far from it! I just so happen to run two of the most lucrative businesses, Daddy’s Girl, a Gentleman’s Club, and Taylor Made Constructions. Life is good, but it hasn’t always been sweet for me. I’m no different from the rest of the women in the world when it comes to these men and their games. Pierre was my first everything, he was my first love, and my first heartbreak. Even though I lost at the game of love, I still won a prize, and her name is Harmony Taylor. That’s right, the first time I had sex at the tender age of fourteen, I got pregnant. I know it sounds bad, but it is what is. I made a vow to myself to never fall in love again until I met a man that could live up to my father’s standards… JA I got the typical hood story. Grew up with a single mom. My pops died in a shootout when I was young. Word is, he was the toughest man alive and the right-hand man to the Taylor Twins. After my pops were long and gone, the twins looked out for us, they practically raised me and they are the reason I’m a young, ruthless, and rich now. Growing up protecting my OG and little sister Skylar, you’d think I’d be better with women, but the truth is told, it’s the opposite. I’m emotionless and simply unlovable, or so I thought… In this Urban Fiction Romance, you’ll take a ride with Princess and JA through the world of love, heartbreak, and broken promises.

    Since she was sixteen, she's worked her tail off and ended up making quite the comfortable life for herself. Now the owner of a candy inspired line of adult sex toys, December has everything she's ever wanted; except for the love of that special someone. Just when she's ready to give up on her dream of a happily ever after, Gabriel Hunter enters her life and shows her that not only is love real, but the taste of them together will become the only desire she'll ever want. Though when disaster strikes and mayhem reeks havoc in the wake of Gabriel's entrance into her life, will love be enough to withstand the storm that's just rolled in... Gabriel Hunter is tired of playing the field and entertaining simple minded women. So he decides to set his sights on women with substance as well as beauty. One night as fate would have it, Gabriel meets December Whitfield and soon realizes that his life just won't be the same if he can no longer experience the taste of them together. Quickly, Gabriel lines all of his ducks in a row and goes after the only woman who not only is the embodiment of everything he wants, she is also everything he needs. But someone isn't too happy with his change of heart and goes to great lengths to prove that his appetite belongs elsewhere... Will his sweet tooth end up being his downfall or will his all around craving for December be enough to sustain him for a lifetime?

    She’s tried to work, pray, sex, sleep and smoke her problems away but she can’t escape the gloomy, grey clouds hovering over her head. Just wanting to be happy, she's blinded by love; Messiah only sees what she wants to see – always building up to be let down and ultimately crashing. She craves love and admiration but doesn’t love herself enough to know when it’s time to let go of an old flame. Directionless, she coasts along through life numb, until she meets Shyhiem, the man who will change her life forever. He’s everything she never knew she wanted, but everything that she absolutely needed. Without permission, Shyhiem marches into her life and turns everything upside down. He’s rude, cocky, angry and devastatingly handsome. To the world, he’s nothing but an ex-convict with a chip on his shoulder; but to Messiah, he’s an angel sent down from heaven who teaches her how to love again. When Messiah finds herself wasting time, daydreaming about when she’ll see or speak to him again, she knows she’s in trouble. Love wasn’t in the equation for her - especially since she still has feelings for her ex - and Shyhiem has a ghetto baby mother and two kids… Will their love prevail or will self-doubt, self-pity, and a sense of emptiness stop everything before it starts?

    

     From the Number 1 Best Selling authors in Computers and Technology, this clear and concise guide will show you how to get the very best from your new Amazon Echo. Step by step instructions will take you from newbie to expert in just one hour! About the Authors: Tom and Jenna Edwards are the Amazon Tech authors behind the Number 1 Best-selling e-books 250+ Best Kindle Fire HD Apps for the New Kindle Fire Owner and Fire HD 8 & HD 10 User Guide: Newbie to Expert in 2 Hours!

    I'll take her for walks. I'll read stories to her and draw her pictures.Petunia knows she can take care of a pet, but what happens when the pet she most desires is a skunk?

    There, they make an incredible discovery-two glowing emeralds. But when they take the jewels, the Fire Falls turn dark. Will they unravel the secret legend of the emeralds before their fates change forever?

    "Wow!" he says when he sees all the books, the colorful posters, and especially the chairs with wheels. But Carlo is a little afraid of the librarian, Mrs. Chinca, with her sharp teeth and claws, until he learns how much she loves books. With bright illustrations and a cheery text, Jessica Spanyol offers preschoolers a spirited introduction to the library — and a really nice librarian.

    

    Making Connections Third edition Level 3 Teacher's Manual contains teaching suggestions for each activity type as well as a complete answer key. Photocopiable unit tests contain additional thematic readings and assess how well students have learned the unit's reading skills and the unit's target vocabulary.

    His loyalty to his family is what put him behind bars, so it only seems fair that his older brother gets him a job working security for his boss – Oxford Pierce – owner of one of the wealthiest tobacco companies in America. Lexie Pierce has never been swayed by her father’s wealth. If anything, being heir to Oxford Pierce’s tobacco throne has given Lexie a hunger for independence outside of her father’s name and fame. All of her life she’s had one dream… one goal… and the will to achieve it on her own – until her father makes her an offer she can’t refuse. When Aali joins Lexie’s security team, he immediately finds himself enraptured by her. There are just two problems – Lexie is promised to another man, and even if she wasn’t… Oxford has absolutely forbid Aali to even lust after his daughter mentally. Unintentionally, Lexie uses her feminine influence just as Eve did in the garden of Eden. And just like Adam… Aali is forced to choose between obeying Oxford or satisfying his desire for Lexie. Will he take of her forbidden fruit and eat… or will he have the strength to resist a temptation that has never looked so sweet?

    

    Watson's medical school classmate leads to a night of perilous adventure for Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James at the London Zoo. The Baker Street team must defeat a remarkably clever murderer in this fast-paced narrative, told in turns by Lucy and Dr. Watson.The Sherlock and Lucy series combines gripping intrigue with clean family values. For fans of cozy mysteries, historical mysteries, and historical fiction. Get it now!