Most days Cammie is tired of being the daughter of the first female president of the United States and just wants her real life back. She's feeling the stress of having to be on display so often. Plus, her oversized and overly enthusiastic dog Hooligan keeps getting into trouble. That's why she's thrilled when her very favorite group, the famous teenage sensation called The Song Boys, is scheduled to perform at a literacy event at the White House. But when White House objects disappear, the event is in jeopardy. With some help from her younger sister Tessa and Hooligan, Cammie tackles the mystery—and helps save the concert.
A grumpy true crime editor sets out to solve her aunt’s murder with the help of a troublesome but adorable canine companion in small-town Louisiana. When Lucy Layton leaves New York City to attend her aunt’s funeral, she has no idea where her trip back home will lead. The last thing she expects is to inherit her aunt’s dog, her house, and the attached dog grooming salon. But when she discovers that her aunt was murdered, she is compelled to stay in Shongoloo and investigate. With new dog Ollie by her side, she begins to question a cast of colorful suspects. But someone wants Lucy to disappear, and they’ll stop at nothing to make that happen. Can she solve the murder before it’s too late? If you're looking for a delightful cozy mystery with a lovable canine sidekick, look no further than Poison & Party Hats. It’s the perfect read for anyone who loves a good mystery with a touch of humor and plenty of heart.
In a new Yarn Retreat Mystery from national bestselling author Betty Hechtman, Casey Feldstein will have to unravel an assortment of tangled clues to solve a knotty murder mystery . . . “A cozy mystery that you won’t want to put down. It combines cooking, knitting and murder in one great book!” —Fresh Fiction on Yarn to Go The yarn retreat group visiting scenic Vista Del Mar has already planned their own activities, so part-time dessert maker and retreat host Casey Feldstein is looking forward to a stress-free weekend. But the rustic locale is also playing host to a mindfulness retreat for Silicon Valley start-up entrepreneurs along with a flock of bird-watchers, and soon everyone at the resort is getting wound up. And when Casey discovers the dead body of one of the tech gurus on the rocky shore of the Pacific, she begins to suspect that what looks like an accident is actually a calculated murder. With so many suspects to choose from and mysterious connections emerging between members of the groups, Casey will have to knit together a colorful array of clues as she wrangles with Vista Del Mar’s prickly manager and the curmudgeonly local police lieutenant. And as she closes in on the likely culprit, she’ll have to tie up the loose ends of her investigation before the killer can stitch her full of holes . . . Includes a fun, easy knitting project and a mouthwatering muffin recipe! More Praise for the Yarn Retreat Mysteries: “If you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend giving it a go. The mystery will delight you, and afterward you’ll be itching to start a knitting or crochet project of your own.” —Cozy Mystery Book Reviews “The California seaside is the backdrop to this captivating cozy that will have readers heading for the yarn store in droves.” —Debbie’s Book Bag on Yarn to Go
The acclaimed actress and author of Jesse: A Mother’s Story tells the "entertaining and moving" story of her outspoken, frequently outrageous Italian immigrant mother (Tom Perrotta) Marianne Leone’s Ma is in many senses a larger-than-life character, one who might be capable, even from the afterlife, of shattering expectations. Born on a farm in Italy, Linda finds her way to the United States under dark circumstances, having escaped a forced marriage to a much older man, and marries a good Italian boy. She never has full command of English—especially when questioned by authorities—and when she is suddenly widowed with three young children, she has few options. To her daughter’s horror and misery, she becomes the school lunch lady. Ma Speaks Up is a record of growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, with the wrong family, in the wrong religion. Though Marianne’s girlhood is flooded with shame, it’s equally packed with adventure, love, great cooking, and, above all, humor. The extremely premature birth of Marianne’s beloved son, Jesse, bonds mother and daughter in ways she couldn’t have imagined. The stories she tells will speak to anyone who has struggled with outsider status in any form and, of course, to mothers and their blemished, cherished girls.
Brad Evans has been an entertainer for over 50 years. Brad and his group, "The Encores," made a unique sound that crossed all racial, ethnic and cultural lines. Starting with Brad's humble beginnings growing up in a small coal mining town in Pitt Gas, Pennsylvania, to rolling with the famous "Rat Pack", as a musician, sideman and studio musician. Brad lived in an adult Disneyland, a world where partying, booze, superfine ladies and big money was the norm in the raucous 50s, 60s and 70s. He crossed paths with the mob an rubbed shoulders and became friends with some of America's biggest stars like: Elvis, The Rat Pack, Nat King Cole and daughter Natalie, Frankie Laine, Phyliss Diller, Burt Reynolds and many other celebrities of the day. He was popular, in demand, an was asked to perform with headliners. Brad was a shy and polite person who accepted the entertainment business in stride. Brad and his groups on-stage presence made him somewhat of a Vegas nightclub staple. Brad became involved with numerous women during his music career and had many colorful relationships. This book is an interesting tale of a musicians life of ambition, heartaches - -and a life with few regrets.
Joseph Leidex is a young, destitute taxi driver who writes for a soap opera on the side. He also carries on an intimate friendship with Death, who saved his beloved family members from their earthly trials. Then a new friendship shakes Joseph's life. One day a mysterious woman climbs into his taxi and triggers a tentative exploration of his own mortality, spirituality, and identity. This woman becomes Joseph's chief inspiration for his television screenplays, but it's only a matter of time before he begins blending reality and fiction, taxi passengers and soap characters, the living and the dead. Maybe Joseph can find what he lost: a family and a home. Maybe he can enter his own fantasies and discover true love. Or maybe he is just chasing an impossible, twisted romance that will cost him everything. Enter Joseph's most personal journey and explore the delicate ties between life, fiction, love, truth, sex, and death.
It’s a summer to remember . . . at the Jersey Shore. Giovanna “Gia” Spumanti and her cousin Isabella “Bella” Rizzoli are going to have the sexiest summer ever. While they couldn’t be more different—pint-size Gia is a carefree, outspoken party girl and Bella is a tall, slender athlete who always holds her tongue—for the next month they’re ready to pouf up their hair, put on their stilettos, and soak up all that Seaside Heights, New Jersey, has to offer: hot guidos, cool clubs, fried Oreos, and lots of tequila. So far, Gia’s summer is on fire. Between nearly burning down their rented bungalow, inventing the popular “tan-tags” at the Tantastic Salon where she works, and rescuing a shark on the beach, she becomes a local celebrity overnight. Luckily, she meets the perfect guy to help her keep the flames under control. Firefighter Frank Rossi is exactly her type: big, tan, and Italian. But is he tough enough to handle Gia when things really heat up? Bella is more than ready for some fun in the sun. Finally free of her bonehead ex-boyfriend, she left home in Brooklyn with one goal in mind: hooking up with a sexy gorilla for a no-strings-attached summer fling. In no time, she lands a job leading “Beat Up the Beat” dance classes at a local gym, and is scooped up by Beemer-driving, preppy Bender Newberry. Only problem: Bella can’t get her romantic and ripped boss Tony “Trouble” Troublino out of her head. He’s relationship material. Suddenly, Bella’s not sure what she wants. The cousins soon realize that for every friend they make on the boardwalk, there are also rivals, slummers, and frenemies who will do anything to ruin their summer—and try their relationship. Before July ends, the bonds of family and friendship will be stretched to the breaking point. Will the haters prevail, or will Gia and Bella find love at the Shore? For everyone who loves MTV’s hit reality show, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s sweet, funny, and sexy novel perfectly captures the heat, the energy, the fun, and the drama of Jersey Shore.
Learn to communicate with your dog—using their language “Good reading for dog lovers and an immensely useful manual for dog owners.”—The Washington Post An Applied Animal Behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years’ experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell reveals a revolutionary new perspective on our relationship with dogs—sharing insights on how “man’s best friend” might interpret our behavior, as well as essential advice on how to interact with our four-legged friends in ways that bring out the best in them. After all, humans and dogs are two entirely different species, each shaped by its individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (as are wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation. This marvelous guide demonstrates how even the slightest changes in our voices and in the ways we stand can help dogs understand what we want. Inside you will discover: • How you can get your dog to come when called by acting less like a primate and more like a dog • Why the advice to “get dominance” over your dog can cause problems • Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble—and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of mischief • How dogs and humans share personality types—and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alpha wanna-bes!” Fascinating, insightful, and compelling, The Other End of the Leash is a book that strives to help you connect with your dog in a completely new way—so as to enrich that most rewarding of relationships.
