Small Life

When 11-year-old Jack Martel crawls out of his pup tent on the first morning of his camping trip with his mom in Acadia National Park, he notices right away that something isn’t right. Where is his mom’s tent, and their rental car? And where is his mom? Any other kid might panic, might even go to the police. But Jack isn’t like other kids. And his mom isn’t like other moms. Jack knows that it’s up to him to find his mom before someone figures out what’s happened and separates them forever.

He adores her. She adores him. But can they build a life together? Widowed sixty-something Paula Montana isn’t looking for a new love. Between her pancake restaurant, her volunteer work, and her adorable-but-ill granddaughter, she’s far too busy. Besides, when you’ve lost the man you shared fifty years of your life with, anyone new has a lot of memories to compete with. Divorced seventy-something doctor Richard Stewart isn’t looking for love, or for family. His disastrous first marriage and a son who hasn’t spoken to him for fifteen years taught him it’s wiser to focus on work. ...

Seventeen-year-old Riggle is living in rural Indiana with his uncle and uncle's girlfriend after the death of both of his parents. Now his uncle has gone missing, probably on a drug binge. It's Monday, and $800 in rent is due Friday. Riggle, who's been suspended from school, has to either find his uncle or get the money together himself. His mission exposes him to a motley group of Opioid locals - encounters by turns perplexing, harrowing, and heartening. Meanwhile, Riggle marks each day by remembering the mythology his late mother invented for him about how the days got their names.

Jane Tanner’s friends are settling down, while she’s been settling for less. She longs for adventure and the big city, but caring for her ailing grandfather means she's shackled to her small town. She’s excited her vintage gift shop is finally up and running, but it’s not enough. Longing to fulfill at least one dream—to become a mother before her biological clock ticks out—Jane drunkenly propositions the worst possible candidate for Dad.

In the small town of Willow Heights, where secrets intertwine with the rustling leaves, Lisa finds her world turned upside down when Jonah, a figure from her past, reemerges. As they navigate the complexities of co-parenting two spirited boys, buried emotions resurface, and the pair must confront the scars of their shared history. Torn between the echoes of a broken past and the possibility of a mended future, "No Place like Willow Heights" is a heartwarming tale of second chances, the enduring power of family, and the rediscovery of love in unexpected places. Join Lisa and Jonah on a ...

Bonny Blankenship's most treasured memories are of idyllic summers spent in Watersend, South Carolina, with her best friend, Lainey McKay. Now in her early 50s, Bonny is desperate to clear her head after a tragic mistake threatens her career as an emergency room doctor, and her marriage crumbles around her. With her troubled teenage daughter, Piper, in tow, she goes back to the beloved river house, where she is soon joined by Lainey and her two young children.

A TEENAGE GIRL, HER FACE SUDDENLY DISFIGURED BY PARALYSIS, TURNS HER BACK ON THE WORLD AND DISAPPEARS DEEP INTO THE DESERT. HOW LONG CAN SHE REMAIN HIDDEN? A MYSTERIOUS NATIVE AMERICAN IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS EVER SEEN HER AS SHE WANDERS THE DESERT ON MOONLIT NIGHTS, AND HE KEEPS HER SECRET. KEEPS IT, THAT IS, UNTIL A DRUG CARTEL PLANE CRASHES NEAR HER MOUNTAINSIDE HIDING PLACE, PUTTING HER IN DANGER. Two federal agents, one from ATF and one from the FBI arrive in Smoke Tree. They seek the help of Captain Carlos Caballo of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in finding thieves...

The formerly distant Julie Sweeney is home with her daughter, Bliss, and asking for far more than a casual reunion. As the family navigates this new hurdle, John faces troubles of his own while his wife is across the country.\ The renovation of the inn continues, and Sam's relationship with the carpenter deepens. Through it all, Dottie holds the family together, determined to prove that she should be the one to give her granddaughter the greatest gift of all... a second chance at life.

Rule #1: Never sleep with your roommate. Rule #2: Especially when he's your best friend's brother. Rule #3: Oh, who are we kidding? After a string of dating disasters that would make a therapist weep, Ghita Russo has created an ironclad rulebook for her love life. Men who kick her cat, request inappropriate photos, and throw tantrums over mini-golf have taught her that protecting her heart requires strict boundaries. The most important rule? Her best friend's ridiculously hot brother is absolutely off-limits. But when her rent skyrockets and her bestie suggests the perfect solution—...

For Grace Dalton, her sister, Sarah, and her cousin Macy, the Devine Doughnut Shop is a sweet family legacy and a landmark in their Texas town. As the fourth generation to run the Double D, they keep their great-grandmother’s recipe secret and uphold the shop’s tradition as a coffee klatch for sharing local gossip, advice, and woes. But drama brews behind the counter, too.

Inspiring True Stories of Hope, Compassion, and Support in Ukraine During the chaos and devastation of the war in Ukraine, there are still stories of hope, compassion, and support. This book tells nine true stories of how small contributions have made a big difference in the lives of Ukrainians. From the woman whose life was saved with $1 to a group of volunteers who raised money to buy food and medicine for those in need, these stories show the power of even the smallest act of kindness. Inspiring and uplifting, The Power of a $1 is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is ...

Reality looks different through the eye of a camera. As the youngest daughter of a wealthy rancher, Azalea has it all—good looks, a steady boyfriend, and a scholarship to a prestigious university. It's the perfect gilded cage. Azalea longs to break free and stand on her own, to find the passion that's missing from her life. But nothing in reality resembles her dreams... until she meets Leo. Leonardo Walton is a self-made billionaire, a genius investor with an unfortunate knack for upsetting people. Determined to boost Leo's public image, his PR manager signs him up for the reality show ...

Billington, Texas, is a place where nothing changes. Well, almost nothing. For the first time in nearly four decades, Mary Alice Roth is not getting ready for the first day of school at Billington High. A few months into her retirement—or, district mandated exile as she calls it—Mary Alice does not know how to fill her days.

For as long as she can remember, June Bug and her father have traveled the back roads of the country in their beat-up RV, spending many nights parked at Walmart. One morning, as she walks past the greeter at the front of the store, her eyes are drawn to the pictures of missing children, where she is shocked to see herself. This discovery begins a quest for the truth about her father, the mother he rarely speaks about, and ultimately herself.

Just as Emmalee prepares to escape her hardscrabble life in Red Chert holler, Leona dies tragically. Grief-stricken, Emmalee decides she'll make Leona's burying dress, but there are plenty of people who don't think the unmarried Emmalee should design a dress for a Christian woman - or care for a child on her own.

When Marina Moore decides to expand her farmers market and pop-up dinner business, the next step is a cafe on the shores of Summer Beach. But challenges loom, and Marina must quickly become more creative than ever, especially when her children need help. Her sister Kai's position with a musical theater troupe forces more changes. Their sister Brooke is having marital challenges, while grandmother Ginger continues to contribute her advice on the life well-lived—if only her granddaughters will listen.

Do you ever wish you could escape the stress and live a simpler life? Want to learn the benefits of living in a small space, including lower costs, and less clutter? With tips, tricks, and inspiring examples, this guide is packed with practical information you need to know! Whether you’re living in a small apartment, a tiny house, or simply want to simplify your life, this is the perfect resource for anyone looking to make the most of their space. “The Small Living Guide for Compact Houses” will guide you on your journey as you embrace the art of minimalism and use it as the ...

In the foothills of the desert mountains west of Smoke Tree, someone has murdered Caleb and Eunice Clovis. They were impoverished squatters living a life of bare subsistence far off the beaten track in a miserable lean-to made of discarded lumber and cast off building materials. Who would want to kill them? And why? There seems to be no motive for the crime. Lieutenant Carlos Caballo, known throughout the Lower Colorado River Basin simply as “Horse,” is charged with solving the crime. A crime that might not have been discovered for months or even years except for a minor twist of fate. ...

Are you shy? Are you introverted? Do you suffer from social anxiety? Do you want to make more friends? Do you want to have better relationships? We are all told that saying, "Hello" can go a long way. But is a friendly greeting really enough to give our social lives the kind of boost that we are looking for? Social Skills Can Improve Your Life Whether you wish to have success with relationships, friendships, or business encounters, social skills are very important to have. You will learn: *How to prevent social anxiety from controlling your life *Which conversation topics to focus on *Which...

Fueled by a newfound strength and independence, Sam is certain she’s up to the task of bringing her family's inn back to life, no matter what unexpected challenges they might encounter. While Sam and Dottie are focused on the inn, the family around them is facing new tests and trials. Sam’s daughter has a broken heart that needs mending, her sister is struggling with a daunting new addition to her family, and John, the eldest Sweeney, finds his perfect marriage as rocky as the shell-covered sands of Cocoa Beach.