One year ago, a two year old child, Oskar, went missing from an apartment in Stockholm. His troubled mother is now held in a psychiatric hospital, found guilty of his murder by the court of public opinion. Former detective, Alex is haunted by the case. When a British family moves into the apartment and their toddler, Alfie, starts speaking with an 'imaginary friend', dad Fergus becomes increasingly terrified that he is losing his grip on sanity. He and Alex team up to investigate and are led into a labyrinth of lies and corruption. All the while, whatever is in the apartment has its sights on Alfie...
Seven-year-old Alfie Jakes has a kitten-sized secret in her debut chapter book—perfect for fans of the Judy Moody books! Seven-year-old Alfie Jakes isn't thrilled when her mom organizes end-of-summer playdates with her soon-to-be classmate, Hanni. Hanni is kind of bossy. So Alfie is relieved when Hanni is more fun to play with then she thought. Even better, she shows Alfie her cat--who has kittens! Alfie immediately falls in love with a little gray kitten and wants to give it a home. But one of the Jakes' house rules is 'no pets' because Alfie is supposedly alergic. Alfie is sure she's outgrown that allergy, but how can she convince her parents? Wouldn't it be better to sneak the kitten home and PROVE that she's not allergic? But keeping a kitten a secret is lot harder than she ever thought!
How much does she truly know about her husband? Eliza Jones and her husband Bryn had a whirlwind romance and married shortly after meeting, but he was soon sent off to fight. In the midst of a Blitz attack on Liverpool, which leaves Eliza with amnesia, she gives birth to their baby son, Alfie. Still struggling with the aftermath of the birth, Eliza is distraught when Alfie is kidnapped from the nursery. As the search for Alfie progresses and the community bands together around Eliza, she is left with more questions than answers. Who would take her baby, and why? And does she have any hope of being reunited with her baby? When her search for answers leads her back to Bryn’s family, Eliza must ask herself how well she really knew the man she married. A gripping saga set in wartime and post-war Liverpool, perfect for fans of Pam Howes and Katie Flynn. Praise for Hers to Have to Hold ‘What a brilliant page turner and emotional book. Family saga at its best.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘A lovely heart warming story... I really enjoyed reading this book.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review
This story is set in the summer of 1962, the swinging sixties and a more liberal society. A time of Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll. There are two central characters, namely Alfie and Harry, both in their teens and the best of friends. Boy-Girl relationships together with the proverbial annual British seaside holiday are very much on the agenda. Alfie aged 17, was struggling with being a virgin unlike Harry aged 18, who had many sexual conquests. The sixties marked a watershed moment affecting all walks of the British way of life.It was really a turning point from the old to the modern. The times were now being driven by youth and you could say the adults were the ones now being educated in the process with new attitudes to sex, music and fashion. One thing that doesn't change is the proverbial seaside holiday.The story begins one Sunday morning after a fight the night before at the local Church dance and the imminent revenge that's about to take place, however the story will take you back a week earlier, before moving on and eventually unfolding the unforgettable holiday in Great Yarmouth. Involving the holiday accommodation, the girls they encounter and pop stars from a show at the Windmill theatre. All throughout the book you will be reminded of the classic songs of the sixties.
A fresh, hilarious, and relatable collection of essays about everything from motherhood and marriage to sobriety and work-life balance (or imbalance) from the nationally bestselling author of the “honest, complicated” (SheKnows) Idiot. TRIGGER WARNING: TORN EVERYTHING! In her first book, Idiot, bestselling author Laura Clery gave us mind-blowingly personal life stories about addiction, toxic relationships, and recovery—establishing herself as the preeminent voice of infinite conviction meets zero impulse control. Here she is two kids later asking, “How did we get here?” Sex. Sex is how we got here. Laura’s life has changed a great deal since she wrote Idiot, but her hilarious candor has only increased with motherhood—plus she tells some of the stories she was too scared to tell in her first book (which is really saying something). “Full of wit” (Publishers Weekly) and charm, Laura shares more than anyone wanted about: -Placenta pills, mom brain, and vibrator manifestation -Nipple-twisting orgies and flinging a butt burrito in your doctor’s face -ADHD, autism, postpartum depression, and the wisdom of a ninety-eight-year-old sage named Anne -Unsolicited dick, sexual assault, and sister-drugging -Cheating, fights, and forgiveness -Choosing love over fear and healing the world Laura does not hold back when it comes to sharing stories of screw-ups, triumphs, and learning from her mistakes. Whether she’s crying into a diaper in a Whole Foods parking lot or desperately soliciting advice from a random elderly stranger (who has most certainly considered a restraining order), Laura is able to laugh at herself even during her worst moments—more importantly, she makes us laugh, cry, and feel less alone in the world.
Secrets of the Mothers is one story divided into four eras and four generations of Christian mothers. It is about both their good and bad characteristics passed from one generation to the next. It is a reflection of their struggles to follow their Savior, as well as their outright defiance. Ultimately, it is about each of them accepting God’s grace that covers all their sins (secrets).
Providing a fresh approach to examining development in the early years, this book draws together well-established ideas and theories based on outdoor play experiences and connects them to spiritual development in children. Elemental Play and Outdoor Learning considers socio-cultural perspectives, guided participation and mediated learning alongside playfulness as it looks at young children’s developing interest in the people around them, the environment they experience and the ideas and objects that involve them. Including rich encounters with young children and adults, chapters cover: elemental play as an approach to observe and support children’s holistic development; the role of people in developing effective exploratory and social skills; using the concept of elemental play to consider the spiritual system as an aspect of child development; imaginative play with raw, natural materials and how prepared environments can encourage children’s natural exploration; an exploration of well-established constructs of play and how elemental play can be integrated or re-conceptualised with the other theories. Exploring current thinking about natural experiences, interest in forest school activity and fresh insight into dynamic ecological concepts, this book will be essential reading for practitioners and students on undergraduate and postgraduate early years and childhood studies courses.
Fondly nicknamed “The Peanut Butter Brothers,” Andrew, Abraham, and Austin Petersheim skillfully run one of Wisconsin’s most cherished family businesses. But their mischievous younger twin siblings have a talent all their own—for matchmaking . . . Between work and keeping his little brothers out of trouble, Austin Petersheim barely has time to think, much less court the most popular maidel in town. But if he can establish a local market to direct-sell his family’s goods, he’ll stand out as a potential husband. He’s so grateful for the help of his longtime friend, Hannah Yutzy, who has such practical ideas—and is so easy to talk to . . . While Austin embarks on his plan, his siblings have a plan of their own: to give Austin and Hannah a little nudge to show them they’re made for each other. When their antics wreak havoc with a rival family emporium, Hannah must help Austin set things right. And as she does just that, Austin is stunned to realize his best friend could be his perfect wife. Now he’ll just need the courage and faith to find out if she agrees . . . Praise for Jennifer Beckstrand and Andrew “Fans of Dee Henderson will relish Beckstrand’s clever plot and moving ruminations on the nature of forgiveness.” –Publishers Weekly
Candy is a tough-talking California teen with a rough home life. A sarcastic stranger, Carlos, arrives to stay with the janitor’s family in Candy’s apartment building, forcing her back to the land of the living. Bear is a sweet-tempered giant of a dog, once a beloved family pet, now a junkyard dog—renamed Big and Bad—who finds himself sold to a fighting ring. Candy’s romance with Carlos provides a sweet counterpoint to the chaos she faces every day. Candy is directionless, but Carlos’ ambition and determination inspire her, and his aunt and cousins give Candy a taste of normal family life her father can’t provide. Candy’s and Bear’s stories intertwine only incidentally, until Candy is forced to realize that her once beloved father is not only incapable of caring for her, but is involved in the hideous business of dog fighting. Unable to rely on anyone around her, Candy faces the truth and does her best to rescue the big dog she once delivered into evil hands.
