Book picks similar to
Picnic with Mommy by Kathryn Smith


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Little Sid: The Tiny Prince Who Became Buddha


Ian Lendler - 2018
    In this charming and accessible picture book, Ian Lendler and Xanthe Bouma offer a heart-warming account of the childhood of the Buddha.A spoiled young prince, Siddhartha got everything he ever asked for, until he asked for what couldn’t be given ­― happiness.Join Little Sid as he sets off on a journey of discovery and encounters mysterious wise-folk, terrifying tigers, and one very annoying mouse.With Lendler’s delightful prose and Bouma’s lyrical artwork, Little Sid weaves traditional Buddhist fables into a classic new tale of mindfulness, the meaning of life, and an awakening that is as profound today as it was 2,500 years ago.

Forever England


David Luddington - 2014
     Following an unfortunate encounter with Spanish gin measures and an enthusiastic estate agent, retired special effects engineer Terry England is the proud owner of a nearly completed villa in a new urbanisation in Southern Spain. Not quite how he’d intended to spend his enforced early retirement Terry nevertheless tries to make the best of his new life. If only the local council can work out which house he’s actually bought and the leaf blowers would please stop. Terry finds himself being sucked in to the English Expat community with their endless garden parties and quests for real bacon and Tetley’s Tea Bags. Of course, if it all gets too much he can always relax in the local English Bar with a nice pint of Guinness, a roast beef lunch and the Mail on Sunday. With a growing feeling that he might have moved to the ‘Wrong Spain’, Terry sets out to explore and finds himself tangled in the affairs of a small rustic village in the Alpujarras. It is here where he finds a different Spain. A Spain of loves and passions, a Spain of new hopes and a simpler way of life. A place where a moped is an acceptable means of family transport and a place where if you let your guard down for just a moment this land will never let you go again. Forever England is the tale of one man trying to redefine who he is and how he wants to live. It is a story of hope and humour with an array of eccentric characters and comic situations for which David Luddington is so well known and loved. "Overall, this is a very warm and funny book. It is filled with wonderful characters and many laugh out loud moments." book-reviewer.com "Genuinely funny, with many laugh out loud moment..." Matt Rothwell - author of Drunk In Charge Of A Foreign Language

Alpha Hunted: The Complete Series


J.M. Klaire - 2015
    A great story with lots of twists! I was literally spellbound." "I love J. M. Klaire's stories. They are hot, sexy, sexy stories of finding your true mate." Get every story in the Alpha Hunted series, all in one huge bundle collection of shifter goodness! BEFORE THE HUNT: PREQUEL When a wolf shifter with commitment issues teams up with a runaway bride to find her a new groom- the claws come out and the fur flies! Meet Sandra, a runaway bride looking to provide for her widowed mother, and Naythan, a wolf shifter determined never to settle down. This prequel to the Alpha Hunted series takes place about nine months before Alpha Hunted: Keelyn & Bane. ALPHA HUNTED: KEELYN & BANE Fate’s dark design brings them together... in a mating neither is ready for. Five years after witnessing her father's death, Keelyn has become what she never wanted to be: a were-hunter. Surprisingly good at the career she'd had thrust upon her that fateful day, she heads to the yearly gathering to pay her farm's rent with money earned from hunting werewolf hearts and pelts. Bane and his wolf pack are also headed to the yearly gathering when Bane, the pack's Alpha, finally scents the female his wolf says is to be their forever mate. There's only one problem- she also scents of death and wet wolf hide. When Bane follows Keelyn into the woods, neither are prepared for the passion, or the truths, they're each about to face. Can they survive the revelations that lie ahead? Or has fate doomed them to an impossible love? ALPHA HUNTED 2: BELLA & MAC Feeling desperate and alone, pregnant with a baby left behind during a rape, the last thing Bella needs is for her were-hunter sister to bring strange men home. Mac, a bear shifter traveling with his adopted wolf pack, scents pregnant Bella as his mate. Mac's first instinct is to provide for and protect Bella, but Bella's first instinct is to aim a shovel at his head. Secrets and shifters being welcomed into a house of were-hunters, who each hold secrets of their own. What could possibly go wrong? ALPHA HUNTED 3: IVY, DAVID & RYKER When two wolf-pack enforcers show up right in the middle of some serious family drama, Ivy is almost too busy with her own personal crisis to notice how hot the tattooed bad boys are. With secrets being revealed left and right, her family being hunted, and her own hidden identity a key to the whole thing, the last thing she needs is two lone wolves claiming that she, and only she, can complete their triad and become their mate. Not sure she even believes in fated mates, and needing to keep her family together while getting to the bottom of a mystery three generations in the making, she tells the men no. And no isn't a word they are used to hearing. ALPHA HUNTED 4: ENID & THE KING Enid raised her three young daughters to hate, and hunt, shifters. So, of course one mated a werewolf, the other a bear, and the third mated not one but two of the rag-tag pack's wolf enforcers. When Enid finds herself entwined in the lives of her girls, their mates, and their king, who just happens to be a sexy-as-sin dragon shifter, her first thought is, "FML.

The Deer Pasture


Rick Bass - 1985
    More than a place to stalk the white-tail, this is a place to get together, chase armadillos, swap campfire stories, listen to quail, make biscuits, and enjoy the antics of ringtails. It's the sort of place where a man is only as good as his dog, where memories last longer, where the hunter's moon is the perfect light for chasing raccoons. Most important, it is a place to recharge the spirit and renew family ties.

Brave Little Finn


Jennifer Churchman - 2016
    He can't help but be frightened as he ventures outside and encounters unfamiliar sights, sounds, and creatures. With the help of Farmer John and his animal friends, Little Finn learns to be brave and mighty. This charming story by John and Jennifer Churchman, featuring real animals on their bustling Vermont farm (including Sweet Pea from The SheepOver!), celebrates the magic of friendship and finding the courage within.

Unbecoming Behavior


Stephanie Rowe - 2004
    While being investigated for unbecoming behaviour on the job, Shannon descends into chaos as her sister prepares to marry a rich plastic surgeon, prompting her mother's latest matchmaking scheme, which forces her to take a stand and get her life back on track.

Willow


Tonya Cherie Hegamin - 2014
    She’s been taught to read and has learned to write. She believes her master is good to her and fears the rebel slave runaways. On the other side of the line is seventeen-year-old Cato, a black man, free born. It’s his personal mission to sneak as many fugitive slaves to freedom as he can. Willow’s and Cato’s lives are about to intersect, with life-changing consequences for both of them. Tonya Cherie Hegamin’s moving coming-of-age story is a poignant meditation on the many ways a person can be enslaved, and the force of will needed to be truly emancipated.

The Voice Inside My Head


S.J. Laidlaw - 2014
    So when Pat disappears on a tiny island off the coast of Honduras and the authorities claim she's drowned - despite the fact that they can't produce a body - Luke heads to Honduras to find her because he knows something the authorities don't. From the moment of her disappearance, Pat's voice has become real, guiding him to Utila, where she had accepted a summer internship to study whale sharks. Once there, he meets several characters who describe his sister as a very different girl from the one knows. Does someone have a motive for wanting her dead? Determined to get to the bottom of Pat's disappearance, Luke risks everything, including his own life, to find the answer.

Travels with Geoffrey : If It CAN Go Wrong, It Will (Never a Dull Moment Book 1)


Sharon Hayhurst - 2021
    When Sharon and her husband, Geoffrey, travel abroad, they stumble through Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia and Oman, flinging sausages and car parts, evading jails, abduction, wild coyotes and the Mafia, but will they continue to survive the perils, despite their satnav’s suicidal tendencies? Join them for a rollickingly good time while they lurch between glorious scenery, irritable outbursts and dubious driving.Travels with Geoffrey is an engaging travel narrative full of madcap adventures and is perfect for fans of Beth Haslam, Marjory McGinn and Tony James Slater.

Shifter Nation: East Coast Bears Collection


Meg Ripley - 2019
    Heart-stopping suspense. Unrelenting passion. This is Shifter Nation. Deep in the wilderness, National Park Rangers have been guarding America’s most closely-kept secret. Shifters have been living among us for centuries. And these smoking hot bears are on the hunt for their strong, sassy mates. Shifter Nation: East Coast Bears Collection packs Meg Ripley’s bestselling Werebears of Acadia and Werebears of the Everglades series into one riveting anthology, featuring: Ranger Knox The journalist writing an exposé on Acadia National Park is most definitely an outsider, no matter how much Knox’s inner bear insists she’s his. But is it possible that this human could be his mate? And can he keep her from unraveling the mystery that’s kept his clan hidden from the public eye for generations? Ranger Trent Three brutal murders were committed in Acadia, and Trent is on the case. Or is he? When Blanca, a feisty, curvy FBI agent, tries to take over the investigation, she challenges the desires of Trent’s inner bear—in more ways than one. Ranger Ramon From the moment they met, there was no denying the sizzling chemistry between Ramon and Min. But what is she doing in Acadia in the first place? Could this brainy beauty be responsible for sabotaging the Acadia clan, or will she prove to be their greatest ally? Ranger Drew Fighting fires is Drew’s duty at Acadia, but the day he met Kathleen, nothing could have prepared his bear for the fiery passion that would ignite between them. But will her betrayal of his trust extinguish the flames between them once and for all? Alpha's Second Chance Addie hopes to rekindle things with Owen, and deep down, Owen wants the same, but his shifter secret has forced him to shut her out from his heart. How could things ever change if the truth stays hidden? Fated Attraction A sassy, badass Florida panther. A laid-back bear Ranger with a surfer attitude. Will their common goal of finding who’s been killing the Everglades panthers bring these polar opposites together? Nanny For The Soldier Bear Conner is an Army vet Ranger with a wounded heart and an unimaginable secret. Will his little one’s nanny have the patience to melt this bear’s tough exterior so he can learn to love again? Relentless Mates It seems impossible for a bear and a crocodile shifter to be fated mates, and from the moment of their first date, their warring clans try to keep Grace and Mason apart. Are their hearts destined to be torn apart by the rivalry among the Everglades clans forever? Steamy shifter scenes inside! 18+ readers only.

The Dark Brotherhood: A Medieval Romance Collection


Kathryn Le Veque - 2020
    Knights of blood and of war bring forth the very worst that Medieval brutality has to offer, but in that darkness, there is a ray of hope. Women of brightness shine the most when confronting the darkness within men. Be shocked at nothing within the pages of this collection, for these novels will take you into the blackness and back again, where love reigns supreme, even over evil.Romance comes in many shades, in many ways.This set contains:DarkWolfe – A de Wolfe son puts a tragic past behind him and finds love with an enemy.DarkMoon – A special ops knight finds an unexpected romance. Will it cost him a life-long friendship?Dark Steel – A happenstance creates a new duke – who falls into a surprising romance.The Dark Lord – The darkest lord of all finds a woman to tame his vicious ways.Guardian of Darkness – A noble knight and a Scottish hostage find love amidst a web of royal lies.The Dark Lord’s First Christmas – Bonus book! The Dark Lord discovers the meaning of Christmas.The original Medieval Romance novels with no cliffhangers, no cheating, and always with a Happily Ever After.

The World from Up Here


Cecilia Galante - 2016
    She doesn't even know what she's afraid of, really. Only that if she raises her voice or leaves her mark or ventures too far from home, she'll risk falling flat on her face.But that all changes when Wren's cousin Silver walks into her life. Silver is totally fearless. Maybe that's why she's the most popular girl in the sixth grade. She dares Wren to take risks, to live out loud, to finally spread her wings. So when Silver decides to break all the rules, Wren is forced to make a choice: Is she in or is she out?There's only one way Wren will ever learn to fly. It's time for her to stand at the edge of the unknown . . . and jump.Full of heartache and hope, The World From Up Here is a tender, moving story about old secrets, new friendships, and what it means to face the things that scare us most.

Ghosts of Fire


Maureen Smith - 2013
    Just when she thinks the nightmare can’t get any worse, her father is charged with the crime. Rachel will do anything to prove his innocence, but her loyalty is tested to the limits when she crosses paths with Nicholas Hunter, the ruthless prosecutor bent on sending her father to prison… Nick Hunter is thirsty for justice, a man made cynical by the horrors he experienced in childhood. He shows mercy to no one…until he encounters Rachel Calloway, the first woman ever to make him question his convictions. From the moment they meet, a forbidden attraction sizzles between them that neither can ignore.As danger lurks in the shadows, Rachel soon finds herself in the biggest fight for her heart…and her life.Ghosts of Fire is a 97,000 word romantic suspense novel that was originally published in 2002.Praise for the Romantic Suspense Novels of Maureen Smith“…a haunting, suspenseful story that documents Maureen Smith as a writer of considerable promise and ability” — Midwest Book Review on Ghosts of Fire “Few authors pen work that is so thoroughly engrossing the characters leave a lasting impression” — Romantic Times on With Every Breath“…keeps you guessing and hoping that these two will get together and find the perpetrators responsible…one of the best romantic suspense stories I’ve read in a long time” — The Romance Readers Connection on A Heartbeat Away“With a deft touch and solid cast of characters, Smith gives equal credence to spicy romance and nail-biting suspense on her way to an explosive conclusion” — Publishers Weekly on Whisper My Name“Smith weaves a captivating tale of mayhem and murder…a romantic suspense thriller that will stay with you long after you turn the final page” — San Antonio Express-News on Whisper My Name“…a tense page-turner that will further enhance Smith’s reputation in the romantic suspense genre—a reputation that is well deserved” — Romantic Times on Like No One Else

Penguin on Vacation


Salina Yoon - 2013
    Penguin's tired of the snow and cold--so he decides to go on vacation! But where should he go? And what new friends will he meet along the way?Seasoned illustrator Salina Yoon's spare text and bright, energetic illustrations bring this favorite character to life, ensuring that readers will be clamoring for more Penguin stories--whether they find their home in the cold or the warm.

Night Watch: Stage Adaptation


Stephen Briggs - 2014
    With a psychopath from his own time rising in the vile ranks of the Cable Street Unmentionables complicating things, Vimes has to ensure that history takes its course so that he will have the right future to go back to, and to keep his younger self alive."One of the funniest English authors alive" (Independent)