Thereafter, he was his worst enemy. A tough-as-nails father who firmly enforces his old-fashioned ways, a mother who has little or no say, and a son with a penchant for getting into misadventures. The boy tries to convince his parents that something is wrong with him, and he is really physically ill. He suffers three years of humiliation, agony, and punishment from the school and his father. The school principal, gave him swats, detention and isolation, where he spent all day locked up in an empty storage room. His emotionally unstable father spanked him ferociously. The boy was also whipped shirtless with his shorts on leaving him with welts all over his body from head to toe. He suffered other cruel punishments as well. The school and his parents misjudge him almost costing him his life. The parents get a divorce. The mother and brothers moved back to Wisconsin from Texas. They found themselves in an all-black housing project, being the only whites there for almost four years. He grows up quick and learns that life isn't as simple as black and white. When he turns 18, he decides to move back to Texas to seek vengeance from his father in a small country town with his father and his new mother. He hasn't seen or talked to his father in almost four years. Things fall apart fast. The young man and his younger brother end up out on the streets being homeless for two months and encounters unpredictable adventures. A raw, uncut true story.

    Because I would never, ever know peace again.' Charlene Downes was 14 when she went missing in Blackpool's seedy underbelly. Once a happy-go-lucky schoolgirl, she had become a truant - hanging out with the wrong crowd by the takeaway shops and pier. But Charlene's mum, Karen, always knew her typical teenage daughter would come home.Until one day she didn't.Karen has been searching for 15 years, campaigning for the truth of what happened to her daughter. To this day, Karen and her family have no body, no convictions and no answers. Arrests were made and a murder trial took place, but no one has ever been brought to justice.On the 15th anniversary of Charlene's disappearance, Karen shares this heartbreaking account of every parent's worst nightmare.

    They captivate us with their forbidden mystery and promises of excitement. Yet once inside us, they become toxic; compelling us to infect others, who in turn want nothing more than to be bitten. It's a vicious cycle that ensures nothing remains secret forever. The only way to protect yourself from their destructive energies is to simply turn the other way when offered one. To resist the lure of the forbidden fruit. But sometimes, something just happens to you - or you just happen to witness something - that forces one upon you; like an uninvited guest that arrives without warning, and leaves only under great duress. Unfortunately, I have been burdened by such a secret for over twenty years. You see, my childhood was stolen from me in broad daylight, right under my nose, by a cunning thief who dazzled me with his charms, only to run away with my innocence forever. It was the perfect crime, and at the time I was the perfect victim. But thankfully, I was able to pick up the pieces of my life and gradually go on to live quite normally. In fact, I even forgot all about my childhood trauma. Or so I thought. Because it was during a recent chance encounter with my old teenage diary that I realized my demons had never truly left me. They had only been lurking in the shadows all along as I busied myself with other things. I suppose I learned the hard way that a secret kept in darkness only grows in potency.  But there is one way to diffuse a secret. To take away all of its power. And that is to make it public. For no vampire can survive in the cold light of day. So it is at the behest of my wonderfully supportive husband that I have decided to lay bare the ghosts of my childhood in this book, in the hope that in doing so, I'll finally be able to lay them to rest forever. It's been a long, hard journey for me to get to this point. And I thank you, dear reader, for playing your part in my recovery. Emily WARNING: This book is based upon a true story of child abuse, and as such contains passages that some readers may find disturbing.

    This is the first time that I have told the whole story of the abuse I suffered at the hands of my alcoholic step father.

    December 26, 2004: The Indian Ocean tsunami has flooded great swathes of western Thailand.Carl’s best friend and his wife are missing. He travels from London to Thailand to discover what has happened to them, only to learn there is nothing one man can do in the devastation the wave left behind. What started as an impulsive quest ends up with him examining the very essence of his being.A unique combination of an action-packed quest for truth and a philosophical exploration of life’s deeper meaning, Breathe is a poignant, tense and intelligently written story that will have you contemplating its meaning and message long after you have reached the final page. 'A page-turner with high psychological stakes' - Kirkus Reviews‘A harrowing, profound and intensely emotional tale of loss and hope' - Johanna Gustawsson, author of the international best-seller Roy & Castells books; soon to be a major TV series

    Stedman | Conversation StartersA Brief Look Inside:The Light Between Oceans is M.L. Stedman's first and only novel to date. It tells the story of Tom and Isabel Sherbourne who find an abandoned child and take the child into their home and raise it as their own. Soon, the biological mother is found. Eventually, the story becomes a question of right and wrong because Tom and Isabel must decide whether or not to tell the truth about the child. That question becomes more and more difficult to answer as time goes on...The Light Between Oceans was named as a Goodreads Book of the Year in 2014. ...and was called “extraordinary” by The Guardian. EVERY GOOD BOOK CONTAINS A WORLD FAR DEEPERthan the surface of its pages. The characters and their world come alive, and the characters and its world still live on. Conversation Starters is peppered with questions designed tobring us beneath the surface of the pageand invite us into the world that lives on. These questions can be used to..Create Hours of Conversation:•Foster a deeper understanding of the book•Promote an atmosphere of discussion for groups•Assist in the study of the book, either individually or corporately•Explore unseen realms of the book as never seen beforeDisclaimer: This book you are about to enjoy is an independent resource to supplement the original book, enhancing your experience of The Light Between Oceans. If you have not yet purchased a copy of the original book, please do before purchasing this unofficial Conversation Starters.Download your copy today for a Limited Time Read it on your PC, Mac, iOS or Android smartphone, tablet devices.

    Teaming up with her twin sister Rita, the pair begin to unravel a sinister scheme that threatens to destroy the life of the man she loves.From a bumbling cop to a close shave with death, it quickly becomes clear that somebody is out to get them. Struggling to catch the would-be killers and get to the heart of their scheme, Rhonda must uncover Zach’s history… and why he’s become their target. But there’s one more surprise in store – and it could throw all of Rhonda’s plans for a loop.Can Rhonda use her cunning detective skills to outwit a cruel scheme? Or will she become the next victim and lose the man she’s desperately trying to save?

     Come ready to load up on hot doctors, taboo older men, steamy paradise flings, fantasy worthy fake fiancés, droll-worthy brother’s best friends and wild forbidden office flings… that somehow all end up with an adorable baby wrapped up in a pretty little bow. Book 1 – Doctor Daddy, Amazon top 100 Bestseller It was the perfect arrangement... Three hot days and steamy nights in the city of love. No strings attached. No phone numbers exchanged. No real names. Book 2 - Taboo Daddy, Amazon top 20 Bestseller 15 years age gap? It's naughty. It's taboo. It's scandalous. It's.... happening. Book 3 – Royally Damaged I just met a goddess with a scheme I can't refuse... A week in paradise. Exploring the island. Exploring each other. Sure, I'll pretend she's mine and make her ex pay. I'll do that and more. Book 4 – Boss Man Falling for my boss…again? Not wise. I was already burned by Nick once. But things get complicated when he pops the question. It seems he’s in a predicament and I’m the only one that can help him get out. Too bad he broke my heart into shreds years ago. Book 5 – Knocked Up by my Brother’s Best Friend, Brand New Brother’s Best Friend, Office Romance. It’s been nine years since I laid eyes on my best friend’s sis. Now, I can’t take my gaze or mind off her. Even the sway of her hips leaves my mouth watering for a taste. She works at my office and my mind’s filled with filthy thoughts. It’s wrong… Tempting as h*ll.. And forbidden. But this little secret of ours can’t stay little for very long - when this wild office romance takes me to a sonogram appointment I’ll never forget. This is a collection of 5 steamy standalone romances. No cliffhanger, no cheating, plenty of steam and a guaranteed HEA.

    

    But being good means living a restricted life, and making many sacrifices in order to follow all the accepted social norms. After graduation, she moves to Mumbai and discovers a whole new life. During her struggles to find a job, she meets Siddharth, a start-up owner, who employs her as his assistant. Life is good until one mistake changes the course of her life. Can this one misunderstanding destroy all her efforts and dreams? Find out how Esha struggles to overcome the misconceptions of good and bad, and how she survives to fulfill all her dreams in Rhythm of Love.

    She’s well on her way to becoming a world-renowned actress and her latest movie will surely be a big hit at the box office. She’s basically winning at life… Until now. The emergence of a mysterious stalker, hell-bent on taking her no matter what, has put a wrench into Veronica’s perfect life. After a foiled kidnapping attempt at her latest project, her agents are left with no choice but to hire a Delta Protector. Jason Keyes had been content serving as part of the Delta Force until a mission goes awry and the blood of his beloved comrade stained his hands. Desperate for escape, he leaves the military and goes back home, only for his old friend Chase to offer him a job he can’t refuse: to protect Veronica Langley. As their differences collide and each of them battle to get their way, will their passionate arguments lead to something more? Or will their bullheaded personalities clash and spell death for the both of them? TORN APART Georgiana Pratt, aka “George”, is sick and tired of living under her parents’ rules. She yearns for the day when she can finally spread her wings and make decisions for herself. Studying at a university far, far away from her parents’ prying eyes seems like the perfect solution to her problem. Despite their protest, she leaves the comforts of home and takes the first step into college. She swears this time the only person to run her life is the person possessing it: her. Ex-Marine Spencer Downing has been waiting for a challenge to come his way, and his new assignment might just be the ticket. It wasn’t just a simple protector job; he needed to disguise himself as a student, and keep an eye on a girl who’s never been out of her parents’ roof. The catch is she must never find out. As the fates conspire to get Spencer and George closer, will they give in and provide a chance for their love to blossom? Or will the secret between them tear them apart? BROKEN Rebecca Hayes has joined Chase’s pack of delta protectors, and her first mission involves protecting two subjects – a budding musician and his daughter. Despite her extensive military training and expertise, even she has to admit guarding two people would be difficult…which is why she’s getting a partner. Rebecca is in for the shock of her life when she meets Michael Gardner, the newest addition, and her partner, as well as the man who destroyed her heart many years ago. Michael is surprised to meet his former flame, and sees this moment as an opportunity to rekindle the bond broken between them. But how can he do that when the girl he left behind is now a woman determined to have nothing to do with him? Tanner Lee’s reputation in the music industry has reached a point where going out unprotected is no longer an option, more so for his daughter, Elizabeth, who he already hardly ever has time for. While he plays his bad boy image down to a T, a bigger part of him just wants to be the doting father Elizabeth needs and deserves. He hires Rebecca and Michael to protect them, and the spark that ignites between him and Rebecca is too strong to deny… With feelings she thought she’d buried to the ground starting to resurface, can Rebecca and Michael work things out before their issues threaten to jeopardize the mission? Or will Tanner and Rebecca cross the forbidden line and find their own happy ending…with each other ***Delta Protectors is three standalone security romance books each with a guaranteed happily ever after.

    The guy she had a crush on in school is her mother’s best friend’s son who will also be at the party. She got over her school crush years ago, but she knows everyone will be giving her pitiful looks at the party and wedding that follows, which is the main reason for her to want to skip all the events. She can’t believe her luck when she finds out the handsome stranger who offers to give her a ride to the farmhouse is actually willing to attend the party as her boyfriend—her fake boyfriend. What happens when she needs to live the lie for more than just the one pre-wedding event and has to bring the fake boyfriend to the wedding? Is the handsome stranger willing to be part of the charade? Note: Fake Boyfriend is a short, contemporary romance.