When life goes sideways, embracing the adventure is the fastest way to set things right.One day I was just a widow facing the prospect of an empty nest, living a life that was anything but enchanted. The next, I had discovered my magical roots, and my rightful place as the Guardian of the portal between the Faery and Earth. There was shock. And there was fear. After all, no one plans to start over at forty-five. I intended to grow old with my husband. I thought we'd live an ordinary life. So I'll be damned if I'm going to waste this opportunity to live in a world I always thought was imaginary. I'm half-witch, half-faery, and facing dangers as real as the ache in my bad knee. Ibuprofen and caffeine keep me going, and I could do this for the rest of my life. Whoever thinks my family home is an easy mark better take notice: the new Guardian in town isn't going down without a fight.After all, she's already learned to let go of her simple existence and believe in the extraordinary power inside of her. What could possibly stop her now?
A much-needed antidote to our modern, assembly-line approach to childbirth, this new book is designed as a guide for all who wish to participate in the wondrous process of bringing new life into the world. Its ideas derive from two sources: the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, with its emphasis on body, mind, and spirit, and the latest Western scientific prenatal research. By integrating the best information from these two very different perspectives, this remarkable book gives readers the tools to ensure that our children are nourished by thoughts, words, and actions from the very moment of conception. Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives is rich in practical information, including strategies to help enliven the body intelligence of unborn babies by nourishing each of their five senses, as well as through Ayurvedically balanced nutrition and eating with awareness. Specific yoga poses and meditation techniques reduce the mother’s stress and improve the infant’s emotional environment, as do tips for conscious communication with a partner. Exercises prepare parents for the experience of childbirth itself, followed by natural approaches to dealing with the first weeks of parenting, from healing herbs to enhancing your milk supply to coping with postpartum depression. Inspiring, expansive, and remarkably informative, this unique book from acclaimed experts in mind-body medicine will profoundly enhance the experience of pregnancy and birth for both parents and baby.
When a young boy's beloved plum tree falls in a storm, he feels like he's lost both a friend and a connection to his old home. A young boy, recently arrived from Korea, finds a glorious plum tree in his new backyard. It reminds him of a tree his family had back home, and he names it "Plumee" for the deep purple plums on its branches. Whenever the boy is homesick, he knows he can take shelter in Plumee's tall branches. And when a storm brings the old tree down, he and his friends have all kinds of adventures on its branches, as it becomes a dragon, a treehouse, and a ship in their imaginations. But soon it's time to say goodbye when the remains of the tree are taken away. Before long, a new plum tree is planted, new blossoms bloom, and a new friendship takes root. A South Korean immigrant herself, Hope Lim brings her perspective on the struggle for child immigrants to feel at home to bear through spare, poetic text, perfectly matched by soft, lyrical illustrations by Korean artist Il Sung Na. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Being the Guardian isn't all it's cracked up to be. My new life is weird and hard. Think magic comes easy to those who wield it? Think again! I'm more likely to blow something up than shield it. As dark Fae make their way through the portal and my best friend's children are kidnapped, it's time for me to learn how to cast a location spell. Problem is, before I can start I'm pulled through the portal and left stranded in the Fae realm. I have no choice but to pull up my granny panties and figure this out. Everyone I love needs me. Now I'm desperate for help. Lost in the Fae realm, I'm forced to seek it in a place where my enemies rule with an iron fist. My new trainer is powerful, patient, and very unexpected. The exact opposite of Sebastian. And even if they're both extremely good looking, I don't have time for an alpha male showdown over the rights to my affections. An evil entity is stalking supernaturals in Cottlehill Wilds, and I need to get back through the portal to help Violet find her kids. Turns out, learning my magic is the least of my problems.
Divorce comes as a relief when you discover your husband is a walking cliche and having an affair with a woman half your age. When life gives you lemons... give yourself a magical makeover!One day I'm married, living in the triangle, and working as a head nurse at one of the country's best hospitals.The next, I've shed a hundred and seventy-five pounds of idiot and find myself encountering ghosts, dragons and pixies while taking care of a sick patient.Losing my sanity didn't seem like the worst thing to happen since I moved back home with my mom and nana.But I have to make the best of this mess for the sake of my children. And I refuse to give my ex the satisfaction of knowing he literally drove me crazy.I didn't mind rolling with the punches... I just never imagined those hits would come in the form of magic. Witches, shifters, and Fae don't exist, right?This new world I've discovered is dangerous. The Tainted want to kill me, innocent paranormals want my help, and the son of Hades needs me to find demons.Give me an Ibuprofen and watch out. I'm not about to stand by and let someone else ruin my life. I'm a middle-aged woman on a brand-new mission, and nothing's going to stop me.
‘This book is life-affirming, full of surprises, an absolute joy and a real pick-me-up!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review Two weddings and a baby...but who will get their happy ever after? Emily Prescott’s life isn’t going to plan. Her dreams of starting a family with fireman boyfriend Greg and opening up her own bakery in London feel like they will never come true. So when a wedding invite arrives from her oldest friend, Beth Williams, Emily is thrilled. Not only will she get to return to her childhood home in Scotland, but best of all – Beth wants her to bake the wedding cake! However, her excitement is cut short when she discovers that Greg has cheated on her. Devastated by his betrayal, Emily flees to Glendale Hall, Beth’s grand estate in the Highlands, and tries to distracts herself with helping with the wedding plans, but that’s not easy when Greg keeps hounding her to forgive him. Then she’s introduced to Glendale’s new young and handsome vicar Brodie, and things become even more complicated. When Emily discovers that Greg’s betrayal runs deeper than she imagined, she finds herself with a whole host of decisions to make, especially when she discovers her long awaited dream is finally being fulfilled – at exactly at the wrong time... Escape to Scotland and fall in love with this gorgeous and inspiring romance from the bestselling author of Coming Home to Glendale Hall! The perfect feel-good read for fans of Holly Martin, Heidi Swain, and Jill Mansell. Readers are loving New Beginnings at Glendale Hall! ‘All the characters feel so familiar and it is a lovely warm book...perfect to curl up with on a Sunday afternoon and to just lose yourself in the wonderful story.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Bookworms and Shutterbugs ‘An absolutely gorgeous read that I adored... Walters’ writing is gorgeous, feeling like a nice comfort blanket – all cosy and nice... This was a warm, beautiful book; full of heart and emotion.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Jenn’s Gifts ‘These books are so lovely to read...Such a fab story and really kept me hooked from start to finish.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Caoimhes Books and Lit ‘This book was exactly what I needed: a well written and entertaining read, heart warming and enjoyable.’ Reader Reviewer ‘Loved this book. Unputdownable and highly entertaining, with sadness, friendships, happiness and love.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘an uplifting and heartwarming romantic story about friendships, self-discovery, and chasing your dreams. The story is beautifully written, well-paced, and makes for a fun and relaxing read.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘A lovely gentle read, a tale skilfully told with characters both old and new that come to life, well worth reading.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘There is something about Glendale that has an almost magical feel...It’s a lovely comfy, cosy read that offers hope as well as inspiration...Fabulous!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ By The Letter Book Reviews ‘This was such an adorable story to read... I totally fell in love with the gorgeous setting, the characters and the storyline’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Asianbookworm Reads ‘A BEAUTIFUL book which captured my heart...made me feel all warm and gooey inside like rich chocolate...Beautiful detailing, emotionally captivating, it was simply a heartwarming tale. Book Reviews by Shalini ‘Lush details and an amazing setting. I loved the setting and descriptions of everything in Glendale Hall...I loved this book.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Books Over Everything
In 1910 eleven-year-old Emma and her ethnically German family immigrate to America from Russia to escape poverty and tyranny, but on her journey she encounters hardships on the overcrowded ship, inspection at Ellis Island, and the struggle to reunite with her father and brother in North Dakota.
In Magical Habits Monica Huerta draws on her experiences growing up in her family's Mexican restaurants and her life as a scholar of literature and culture to meditate on how relationships among self, place, race, and storytelling contend with both the afterlives of history and racial capitalism. Whether dwelling on mundane aspects of everyday life, such as the smell of old kitchen grease, or grappling with the thorny, unsatisfying question of authenticity, Huerta stages a dynamic conversation among genres, voices, and archives: personal and critical essays exist alongside a fairy tale; photographs and restaurant menus complement fictional monologues based on her family's history. Developing a new mode of criticism through storytelling, Huerta takes readers through Cook County courtrooms, the Cristero Rebellion (in which her great-grandfather was martyred by the Mexican government), Japanese baths in San Francisco—and a little bit about Chaucer too. Ultimately, Huerta sketches out habits of living while thinking that allow us to consider what it means to live with and try to peer beyond history even as we are caught up in the middle of it. Duke University Press Scholars of Color First Book Award recipient
Fairy-tale master Gail Carson, the bestselling author of Ella Enchanted, guides writers of all ages on how to develop their craft, with practical advice and heartfelt encouragement. In Writing Magic, Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine shares her tricks of the trade. She shows how you can get terrific ideas for stories, invent great beginnings and endings, write sparkling dialogue, develop memorable characters—and much, much more. She advises you about what to do when you feel stuck—and how to use helpful criticism. Best of all, she offers writing exercises that will set your imagination on fire. With humor, honesty, and wisdom, Gail Carson Levine shows you that you, too, can make magic with your writing.
It is not the destination, but the journey. Inspired by this timeless adage, You Are a Beautiful Beginning combines lyrical storytelling and lovely art, blossoming into a celebration of self-love, friendship, and community. With beautiful simplicity and hidden depth, this meditative and magical picture book encourages readers old and young to discover their own endless potential. Kelsey Garrity-Riley's inviting, gently magical art pairs beautifully with a lyrical, deceptively simple text by Nina Laden to create a picture book that is equal parts inspirational story and peaceful lullaby. It is not wishing to be different. It is learning to love being you. It is not the end of your story. It is a beautiful beginning, too. This is another uplifting and magical book from bestseller Nina Laden, the creator of Peek-A-Who and the author of If I Had a Little Dream and Yellow Kayak. It's the perfect gift for graduation, new babies and baby showers, or anyone in need of an inspirational story.
