Short Family

Miriam was raised in a society without children. To offset the devastation of climate change, state-of-the-art birth control has made daycares and playgrounds things of the past. As tempting as the government inducements are to remain child-free, Miriam’s curiosity about the people who “drop out” of society to become parents grows. When she finds a like-minded partner, she must choose between the rewarding comforts she knows and the unknowable mysteries of being a mother.

Lonely, thanklessly courteous, and without the benefit of status, Gordon Schulmeister is only tolerated in his younger, hip, and gentrified Oakland neighborhood. Now, amid the tensions of a pandemic, the cantankerousness of his landlord, and dog sitting an intimidating pit bull, Gordon has never felt the target on his back so acutely. To keep his neighbors off his heels, with some hope and a sigh, Gordon might have to finally speak up.

In this heart-warming short story, meet wife and mother Eugeena Patterson. Eugeena has always been the glue keeping her fragmented family together. When her teenage daughter is rushed to the hospital, Eugeena’s usual attempts to maintain peace in her family reach a breaking point. Will her troubled teenage daughter rip the family apart?

When Ashley hides to play a prank on her husband, she overhears something she wasn’t supposed to hear. Something that shatters her world. Outpranked is a part of the Mothers, Sisters, Husbands, Secrets series of short stories. The stories are unrelated and can be read out of order.

Jenna Camden knew nothing would be the same again. She felt like a guest in her own home...empty rooms echoed with precious memories, quiet nights filled with shadows of so many cherished yesterdays. Nothing was the same. Not even Christmas.A Christmas love story of hope, courage, and the enduring strength of love… Jenna didn’t have to look around her home with its colorful and shining Christmas decorations, the tall Christmas tree in her front room with the many Christmas ornaments that told in a special way the story of her family, to know that no matter what she did it would never ...

People come to Kiss County to fall in love. I’m just waiting for my turn. All my friends spent the summer coupling up, and I refuse to be the last single woman standing. So when I meet Riley Ripley—the ridiculously hot new bartender in town—it feels like my love life is finally about to change. One night of steamy karaoke, and the sparks between us are undeniable. We make plans for more, but the universe has other ideas. Like introducing me to my mom’s new fiancé… who just so happens to be Riley’s dad. We should stay away from each other, right? But just-one-night turns into ...

A gripping and emotional short story, The Good Son follows Ethan, a man haunted by childhood abuse and the scars left by an alcoholic stepfather. After his mother’s death, Ethan is forced to confront the man who shaped his darkest impulses—and reckon with the kind of father he’s becoming himself. Spanning decades of trauma, rage, and redemption, this story explores the brutal legacy of violence—and one man’s quiet decision to end the cycle.

With some expert guidance and God's help, you can have tremendous influence in your stepchild's life and grow in your faith along the way. Seasoned stepmom Laurie Polich Short understands and empathizes with the difficult job you face. Drawing on extensive research, biblical teaching, and her own real-life experience (including an insightful chapter cowritten with her stepson, Jordan), Laurie provides practical and spiritual advice to help you fully embrace and succeed in your role as stepparent.

10-Minute Escapes: Short Story Collection 18 wonderful stories: an entertaining mix of adventure, love, action, and fun. Great people you'll want to spend time with - and escape for a while into another life. Stories: When the Music Stops On a Downtown Train Gasoline Alley Talking Old Soldiers Leaving on a Jet Plane A Day in the Life of a Fool Highway Shoes Route 50 Ventura Highway Country Roads Lincoln Highway Daylight Pass A Whisper on the Wind Tuesday The Mark of Cain Solstice The Milan Anarchy Checking In Toeing the Line Hotel California Coming Forth

A lost love, a shared grief, and the unexpected gift of a second chance. Widowed young, Sarah Yoder has returned to her family’s Amish community in Lancaster County, hoping to rebuild her life and provide stability for her daughter, Emma. But with her heart heavy from loss and her confidence shaken, the path forward seems more uncertain than ever—until a stray cat and a simple kindness open the door to an old friendship. Jacob Stoltzfus understands loss all too well, raising his son alone after his wife’s passing. His days are filled with sawdust and silence, but when Sarah steps back...

These interrelated stories are arranged in two sections, one devoted to virtues ("Bravery", "Loyalty", "Chastity", "Charity", and "Forbearance") and the other to vices ("Lust", "Sloth", "Avarice", "Gluttony", and "Vanity"). They are cast with characters who appear and reappear throughout the collection, their actions equally divided between the praiseworthy and the loathsome.

Mary Rose MacKinnon is a successful author of YA fiction doing a tour of duty as stay-at-home mom while her partner Hilary takes a turn focusing on her career. She tries valiantly to balance the (mostly) solo parenting of two young children with the relentless needs of her aging parents. But amid the hilarities of full-on domesticity arises a sense of dread. Do others notice the dents in the expensive refrigerator?

What would you do for love? What would you do if only you knew someone you loved was guilty of murder? And: How far would you go for the one chance to be with the love of your life? What would you do if you learned your sister killed her husband to get out of an unhappy marriage, and no one else knows or even suspects? You believe your sister's husband died in a tragic accident, but shortly afterwards you learn your sister was seeing another man. You also learn that your sister was out with that man the night her husband died. Suddenly the husband’s death looks less like an ‘accident’...

What happens when there’s a new member to the Wilkes family? Little Aurora is asking that very same question as she’s faced with the impending arrival of a new baby between her mother and her stepfather. Will she be replaced? Will they love her as much? *** This is a short story set in the Healing Hearts Sweet Romance series and does not stand alone. It should be read after Remember Love and is a little bit of emotional tenderness dealing with relationships, childbirth, and that precious time that follows for the Wilkes family.

A book about life, travel, survival, and awareness of mistakes. Escape to Myself is the first book in the Big Little Stories series by Ukrainian writer Ivan Kuznietsov. Each book in the series is an independent, complete story and can be read in a free sequence. All stories have something in common—they are all about change. You will discover the adventures of different characters, but all of them, just like you and me, are essential parts of the big little story of our world. This book tells the story about a conscious transition from the life of a highly respected person, the heir to ...

“Look at her flush,” Lucy whispered. “Oh, please tell me you flush like that when you come.” After another disastrous Tinder date, I turned to my friend Lucy for support. She was there for me, as she always was, and even told me that I couldn’t be as bad looking as I thought I was. When I told her I was looking for the opinion of a guy, she offered a solution. Her husband, the handsome and loyal Evan, was home. He could provide me with his honest opinion. When Evan started to compliment me on my looks, I beamed with pride. And when Lucy joined in, touching me in ways that no woman...

With their wedding less than a week away, Jeremy and Tiffy discover they’re not on the same page when it comes to raising their son and dealing with the challenges that come their way. In true Friessen fashion, when Jeremy tries to establish ground rules, he soon learns that Tiffy isn’t the kind of woman anyone can tell what to do, and his strong personality could have her calling off the wedding and walking the other way.

He's better than a corned beef sandwich! I'm meeting my sister Mel for St's St. Patrick's day. She said she ordered takeout, but I wasn't expecting a naked celtic warrior in my cauldron. Even if he does come with an extra large pickle. Join the powerful Delazney clan for a magical holiday meal and remember--the extra large pickle goes on the side. Or does it? This is a short, quick read, perfect for a relaxing break or a little ME-time.

🌟 Discover a World of Imagination: A Collection of Heartwarming Children's Stories, fully illustrated 🌈 Embark on a captivating journey through this enchanting collection of children's stories that will ignite the imagination and warm the hearts of readers young and old. From brave adventurers to aspiring astronauts, these tales celebrate the resilience, dreams, and unique qualities that make each child extraordinary. 📘 This enchanting collection is a celebration of diversity, dreams, and the universal themes that connect us all. Each story is a treasure trove of imagination, ...

THE ANDERSEN FAMILY SAGA Escape with the Andersen Family...stories about second chances, single dads, strong heroes and heroines, complicated family entanglements, long overdue reconciliations, and later-in-life new beginnings. Inspirational and heartwarming women's fiction that will touch your heart. Livia Andersen was a woman who held her family together with a quiet smile and an iron will. It’s only been months since her death and the four children she leaves behind continue to grapple with the shifting changes in their lives now that she’s gone.Book 9 - Truths Noah Andersen is still...