Memories are the gateway to the soul... Driven by haunting memories, a woman embarks on a literal soul search unearthing past lives, soul mates and an enduring love triangle.
A hot vet. A rebellious teenager. And meddling but well-meaning townsfolk. Vera gets more than she bargains for when she runs off to a new life in the country ... A fresh and funny rural romance, perfect for readers of Alissa Callen and Rachael Johns. Vera De Rossi no longer believes in love ... And thanks to her ex-boyfriend she's also broke, jobless, and staring down the barrel of a court case that could land her in prison. Turning to her talent for baking, Vera opens a cafe in Hanrahan, a cosy tourist town in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains. Josh Cody, once Hanrahan's golden boy, escaped sixteen years ago with gossip hard on his heels and a pregnant girlfriend in tow. Now he's back: a qualified veterinarian - and a single dad with a lot to prove. A new start and a grumpy teenage daughter ... it's a lot to juggle, and there's no room in his life for further complications. But that's before he walks into The Billy Button Cafe and meets its prickly owner ... Reeling from the past, Vera has no intention of being sidetracked by the hot vet with a killer smile. But fate has a way of tripping up our best intentions and between a stray cat and a busybody with a heart of gold, this is a town - a family - unlike any other. And, whether Vera wants it or not, is there anything a family won't do to help one of its own? PRAISE: 'The perfect feel-good blend of warmth, wit and small-town charm. This debut will leave you smiling.' Alissa Callen bestselling author of Snowy Mountains Daughter
Imagine a boundless palette upon which musings can soar, where young minds turn toadstools into tables for mice or mossy banks into condos for moles. Enter a world where faeries dance over sparkling streams, their wings shimmering, while malevolent beasts of legend peer out from the dark, craggy caves in some forgotten valley. In the tradition of Redwall, Wind in the Willows, and Mistmantle Chronicles, with a little splash of Lord of the Rings-style adventure, comes Stella and the Golden Crystal. Stella is a small gray squirrel, a reluctant heroine who must embark on a quest to recover the missing Crystal DOr, a mystical gem of great power stolen away by the goblins who dwell in the high mountain caves in the distant Valley of No Trees, a place no young squirrel would dare go alone. The goblins are bent on discovering a way to turn the faerie magic of the Crystal DOr to ill. A clumsy rabbit, a pair of fellow orphan squirrels, a beaver, an ermine, and a marmot make up some of the unlikely allies who join Stella in her attempt to save the Woodland Realm.
(Applause Books). Arthur Miller decided to become a playwright after seeing her perform with the Group Theater. Marlon Brando attributed his acting to her genius as a teacher. Theater critic Robert Brustein calls her the greatest acting teacher in America. At the turn of the 20th century by which time acting had hardly evolved since classical Greece Stella Adler became a child star of the Yiddish stage in New York, where she was being groomed to refine acting craft and eventually help pioneer its modern gold standard: method acting. Stella's emphasis on experiencing a role through the actions in the given circumstances of the work directs actors toward a deep sociological understanding of the imagined characters: their social class, geographic upbringing, biography, which enlarges the actor's creative choices. Always "onstage," Stella's flamboyant personality disguised a deep sense of not belonging. Her unrealized dream of becoming a movie star chafed against an unflagging commitment to the transformative power of art. From her Depression-era plays with the Group Theatre to freedom fighting during WWII, Stella used her notoriety as a tool for change. For this book, Sheana Ochoa worked alongside Irene Gilbert, Stella's friend of 30 years, who provided Ochoa with a trove of Stella's personal and pedagogical materials, and Ochoa interviewed Stella's entire living family, including her daughter Ellen; her colleagues and friends, from Arthur Miller to Karl Malden; and her students from Robert De Niro to Mark Ruffalo. Unearthing countless unpublished letters and interviews, private audio recordings, Stella's extensive FBI file, class videos and private audio recordings, Ochoa's biography introduces one of the most under recognized, yet most influential luminaries of the 20th century.
Join in and celebrate at Stas and Stella's Mostly Traditional Polish Wedding! This is not just another audience participation ethnic wedding! The musicians play key roles in presenting this Polish tradition but the guests are the real stars as they volunteer to portray the bridal party and family members. The book focuses on many Polish traditions, Polish customs, Polish foods, and traditional Polish Wedding music and dance! The author touches on the traditions and customs that his grandparents brought to this country and have, in some cases, been forgotten or changed through the generations. The story centers around six musicians who grew up together in a Polish neighborhood. As the evening unfolds, you will experience a traditional Polish Wedding, the way it might have been held 50 years ago and at the same time, learn about the customs and traditions of a small Polish Community in Western New York State.
AWARD-WINNING and BEST-SELLING AUTHOR. Early Reader, Chapter Book Series for 5 - 9 year-old girls. When Eclair's mother leaves home, Eclair and her little sister must go live on a farm with Stella, their eccentric grandma, a woman they barely know. When Eclair sees the dead deer heads over Stella's mantel she wonders if she'll end up on the mantel too. Eclair Goes to Stella's is funny, sad, heart warming, and genuine all at once!” ~ Renee Gray-Wilburn, co-author of Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ (Pix-N-Pens, 2012). “Michelle's story is well-written and engaging. She does a wonderful job of developing the characters and deals with difficult issues in a kid-friendly way. Readers will be quickly drawn into this story and want to keep reading. There are so many dimensions to this story--it is filled with humor, action, and emotion--a great read!” --Award-winning children's book author, Crystal Bowman. “More and more, grandparents today are assuming the role of part-time or even full-time caregivers for their grandkids. In Eclair Goes to Stella's, we see how one grandmother bravely and creatively steps into this role to help her family through a difficult situation. I'm certain that children everywhere will be able to relate to the range of emotions that little Éclair faces as she struggles to adjust to her new living arrangements then begins to welcome the love and care her grandmother offers.” ~ Renee Gray-Wilburn, co-author of Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ (Pix-N-Pens, 2012). There is a growing trend in America—grandparents raising grandchildren. According to the AARP’s Grandfacts, “Across the United States, almost 7.8 million children are living in homes where grandparents or other relatives are the householders, with more than 5.8 million children living in grandparents’ homes and nearly 2 million children living in other relatives’ homes. These families are often called grandfamilies.”
Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The phone rings. I am standing on a stool reaching up for a cookbook that’s sitting right in the farthest corner of the top shelf. I have just finished clearing up after the children’s dinner, and my foster child, Lily, has announced her decision to become a vegetarian. #2 I have been working hard to help Lily learn to control her temper and her desire to always be right, as well as her attitude towards vegetables, which is still extremely negative. #3 The first thing I must do is find Lloyd to break the news. He is working in his studio on a new catalogue for an old client who has become a family friend. I wave at his client and explain that there is a five-year-old girl on her way to us. #4 I have an unhealthy relationship with my airing cupboard. It is the place I go to when I need to remind myself that my world is, and will be, all right. I carefully edge a colorful patterned duvet set away from the pile.