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Inspired by true events, this Chinatown-meets The Grapes of Wrath novel tells the story of California''s Sacramento Delta farmers facing off against agribusiness owners over the massive water tunnel(s) the state plans to build under hundreds of thousands of acres of prime Delta farmland. Winter 2022-''23 inundated California with as much as three times the average rain and snowfall and pulled the state out of one of its biggest droughts in recorded history. But the truth is that the American West, from the Oregon border down to Mexico, is prone to drought-and in California, the biggest battle for water takes place in the Great Central Valley, where south-of-Delta agribusiness controls every stream feeding into the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The protagonists of More Than Any River are the family farmers fighting for the Delta, and the antagonist is the big agribusiness controlling its water-but ultimately, the Great Central Valley itself emerges as the central character in this gripping tale of divisive land politics and high stakes.

At the crossroads of midlife, where change is inevitable, lies a rare and powerful opportunity-the chance to step into a life rich with creative joy, self-discovery, and deeper meaning. A Joyful Way of Being is more than a book; it''s an invitation to embrace artistic expression as a transformative force, revealing the wisdom, resilience, and untapped joy that already exist within you. Each chapter shares inspiring real-life stories of individuals who have awakened their creativity and leads you through a step-by-step creative process, shifting the focus from perfection to exploration. It''s about immersing yourself in colour, texture, and movement-allowing your imagination to guide you toward the artistic medium that speaks most deeply to your soul. This isn''t just about making art-it''s about reclaiming yourself. It''s about unlocking a new way of being, one that nurtures your creative essence and invites joy to flow freely into your life. If you seek inspiration, renewal, and a deeper sense of purpose, A Joyful Way of Being will illuminate your path forward.

Seven months after her boyfriend and parents die tragically on the same night, eighteen-year-old Brynn-once an aspiring singer, now desperate for any paying gig that will keep her from ending up on the streets-sets out to rebuild her shattered world. At her new ad agency job, she''s distracted by enigmatic twenty-year-old Micah. Their enemies-to-lovers attraction ignites as both struggle with secrets that could jeopardize far more than just their budding relationship. After things turn romantic with Brynn, Micah''s psychosis becomes harder to conceal. Living with his disorder has cost him relationships before, including with his estranged father; now he fears Brynn will become the next casualty. Things are already complicated enough before a mystery girl from Brynn''s boyfriend''s past comes forward with threatening information and unfinished business of her own. Will she reveal Brynn''s secret-and steal Micah away from her in the process?

A mouth-watering home run of a beach read, this lighthearted romantic comedy featuring a newly widowed fortysomething takes the reader on a joyful romp through-out some of Chicago''s finest eateries--with a dash of Cubs baseball on the side.In the heart of Chicago, forty-five-year-old Angie Sortino finds herself at a crossroads. Recently widowed, she discovers that her deceased husband, Vinnie, has left her penniless. Until his City pension can be cleared up, she''s on her own.Angie has just taken a job at Chicago City Hall as a cleaning woman when her spirited twenty-two-year-old niece, Gina, and Gina''s best friend, Kim, approach her with the idea of starting a catering company targeting funeral parlors. Seeing a chance to reawaken her own culinary aspirations, Angie gets on board. As the three women embark on this new venture, they face the challenges of the catering business, from securing clients to perfecting their menu. Angie and Gina''s love for the Chicago Cubs adds a playful twist to their journey; they often find inspiration in the vibrant atmosphere of Wrigley Field. Gina''s youthful enthusiasm, meanwhile, contrasts with Angie''s cautious nature, leading to hilarious mishaps, unexpected romantic encounters, and heartfelt moments.Through late-night brainstorming sessions and spontaneous cooking experiments, Angie begins to find her voice, both in the kitchen and in her life--and ultimately, with the support of a respected funeral director, Gina and Kim, and an unexpected new love interest, she learns to embrace her worth and pursue happiness.

For fans of Carl Hiaasen and Richard Osman, a rollicking mystery about a private detective who has managed to avoid actually working on his own cases--until now.J. J. Tabasco is not the worst detective on the North American continent, but he''s close. An American expat in Cancun, J. J. can''t become a licensed private investigator. So he figured out a way to skirt the law with a "Do-It-Yourself" method, instructing clients on how to find the information they need.J. J. is scraping by, until a beautiful woman walks into his office with an envelope stuffed full of hundred-dollar bills. What begins as a simple stalking case becomes much more complicated, though, when he discovers that the beautiful Jayde is trying to find a twenty-five million dollar painting that''s gone missing. And there are others sniffing in her tracks, including Kaspar Guzman, who walks his pet iguana on a lead, and Hermione, an octogenarian art thief, who is never without her vicious chihuahua.While J. J. finds himself tangled in Jayde''s quest, Cancun is not short on crime. Members of rival cartel gangs are being targeted by a serial killer and J. J. is conscripted by both cartels to find the culprit.

He shot Granny in the face then murdered nineteen children and two teachers at Grape Valley Elementary School in far West Texas. So begins The Mural, Pulitzer-nominated war correspondent and author Sid Balman''s fictional account of the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that shook the US to its core. The Mural is told from the perspective of Jasper Losoya, an artist from the fictional West Texas town of Grape Valley who is commissioned, along with others, to paint commemorative murals of the victims of a recent mass shooting in the town square. When he initially receives news of the tragedy, Losoya is at work restoring an ancient mural in Pompeii with his assistant, Coraline Larkin, a young Irish woman who lost her hearing and her father in a Belfast bombing when they receive news of the mass murder. Once he sets to work on the mural, Losoya''s art sparks a controversy over censorship and cancel culture that lands in the US Supreme Court, dividing a ''half-mast nation'' as it lurches from one trauma to another. Penned by the author of the award-winning Seventh Flag trilogy, The Mural is an unforgettable journey through the modern American West - and a cautionary tale for the entire nation.

The powerful story of a mother fighting for her daughter in a world unprepared for her needs. Born with multiple disabilities - including vision impairment, cerebellar ataxia, hearing loss, and mitochondrial disease - Rhia''s life unfolds in a maze of medical uncertainty and bureaucratic roadblocks. In this memoir, Terena Scott lays bare the relentless battles, raw grief, and fierce love that define her journey, refusing to let the system - or fate - dictate her daughter''s future. Told in six poignant sections - Dreams, Fear, Hope, Loss, Grief, and Love - Raising Rhia captures the complexities of parenting a child with disabilities, balancing everyday joys with the weight of anticipatory grief. At its heart, it is a story of resilience, connection, and seeing a child for who she is, rather than what she has. Both a deeply personal narrative and a reflection on the broader realities of raising a child with disabilities in the United States, Scott''s candid and compassionate account offers insight, solidarity, and hope for parents and caregivers facing similar challenges - and anyone seeking joy inside the burden of grief.

Eight thousand miles from her Kolkata home, Shani spends most of her time hard at work in the campus biochemistry lab chasing her lifelong dream of becoming a scientist. However, following her dream proves to be anything but easy. As the daily battles and complexities of lab life escalate, she leans into the support of her biggest ally - her mother. Despite now being continents apart, they''ve always shared an unwavering belief in Shani''s dream: a future built on intellectual and financial independence. But when her mom passes away suddenly, Shani is left adrift. The home they once shared feels foreign; her academic aspirations and the future they had dreamed of together, uncertain. Is she truly driven by genuine passion for science, or has she been trying to escape the expectations placed on her as a woman? Alone, Shani must confront these questions and discover where she truly belongs. Shani''s journey, a poignant exploration of grief, identity, and belonging, will resonate with anyone who has ever questioned their place in the world.

Faced with the possibility of losing their three-day-old second child when she contracts meningitis, Norman and Rita Angelini experience all five stages of grief. Terrified for their daughter, they bargain, plead, and beg for a miracle - and they get one, but it isn''t what they expected: though KiKi survives, her illness results in severe brain damage, and she is ultimately diagnosed with cerebral palsy. In the aftermath of this diagnosis, denial and anger take over. Rita fights to keep her vision of who she thinks KiKi could be, and she channels her energy into searching for a procedure - some therapy - that would change KiKi''s outcome. In pursuit of a cure, the Angelini family treks across the United States and abroad - but somewhere along the way, acceptance of and joy in who KiKi is prevails over the idea of ''fixing'' her. A memoir of unending hope, faith lost and rediscovered, and unconditional love, An Unexpected Normal offers other parents of children born with a disability hope that joy is always within reach - even in the most challenging of circumstances.

Luna Merriweather considered herself lucky when she picked the winning lottery numbers. Little did she know then that being lucky isn''t always a good thing - especially when her family decides to move to the city with her lottery winnings. After leaving her friends behind, adjusting to a new place and way of life, and feeling disconnected from everything she''s ever known, Luna''s only chance for a fun summer is the week she''ll spend taking photographs for the local newspaper. As Luna explores the city through her camera lens, she discovers hidden corners, unexpected friendships, and stories waiting to be told, she begins to see that sometimes, what feels like the end of everything familiar can be the beginning of something extraordinary.

If things are ''just things,'' why does it hurt so deeply when we lose them? When a home burglary strips Kim Danielson of precious heirlooms and other special keepsakes, she loses more than the items themselves. She is also robbed of tangible connections to her history, and physical reminders of loved ones who have died - igniting grief both old and new. Feeling the weight of disappointment for future generations who cannot inherit a piece of her family''s legacy, Kim creates a new and lasting heirloom, one that can never be stolen. Perfect for anyone who has ever lost anything of meaningful value, this book provides solace and a new perspective on material possessions. A practical template for preserving a legacy with or without artifacts, a soulful and heartfelt memoir, Piece by Piece offers a unique take on loss through the lens of stolen objects while inviting readers to tell the stories of their lives by telling the stories of their things.

What if the only way forward is to let go of everything you know? Kate''s life in the Hudson Valley seems picture-perfect: a thriving career as a realtor-slash-momfluencer, a devoted husband, and a strong bond with her brilliant teenage daughter, Indie. But when Indie''s best friend dies suddenly, their idyllic small-town haven begins to crumble. Kate and Ethan lose their footing, and Indie, alone in her grief, falls down an internet rabbit hole of nihilism and existential despair. As Indie searches for meaning in a world that feels random and cruel, Kate struggles to reconcile her carefully curated online persona with the raw, unyielding grief tearing her family apart. When long-buried family secrets rise to the surface, she is forced to confront unsettling truths that challenge everything she thought she knew - about marriage, motherhood, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. Told in the dual voices of a mother and daughter grappling with loss, No One You Know is filled with poignant observations on parenthood, best friendship, class and political divides, infidelity in a small town - and the bitter truth that death can touch everything we love.

A high-class brothel that entertains New York''s most powerful men, the Double Standard Sporting House funds a free clinic for women. When the Tammany Hall criminal syndicate takes over the city in 1868 and starts kidnapping girls, the house''s owner Nell ''Doc'' Hastings cannot stay quiet - especially after sixteen-year-old Vivie arrives at the clinic bruised and bleeding. Resolving to seek justice for Vivie and girls like her, Doc builds an unlikely alliance with religious reformers, a rare honest ward cop, and an alluring newspaper publisher she can''t seem to keep away from. Even with their help, Doc will have to use her sharpest tools - secrets, guile, and a surgical blade - to prevent a dark turn in the sex trade. Full of intrigue, friendship, and love, this timely story of a heroine erased from history by the sexual double standard reminds us that women help and heal one another, even when shameless criminals come to power.

In 1822, only a dilapidated Mexican Presidio and an aging Spanish mission offer shelter on the windswept sand dunes near San Francisco Bay. In this bleak place, a disgruntled British seaman, William Richardson, comes ashore to request provisions for his whaling ship from soldiers guarding the bay. After dancing with a charming senorita at the fort and ignoring his duty, William fights with his surly ship captain and is marooned in Alta California. Left ashore to launch a new life, he must remake himself to fit into Alta California society, build a secure future on sea and land, and finally choose sides when war threatens his family and way of life. A mix of facts and imagination, the story is inspired by the life of Captain William A. Richardson and his family who lived in Alta California. This speculative historical novel intertwines their love story with that of three diverse societies - Native American, Mexican, and American - one that led to bloody clashes and war, sparked by greed for land.

It''s 1630, and Anneke Jans has just arrived in the fledgling colony of New Netherland with her husband, Roelof, and their two young daughters to create a new life for herself and her family. One of very few women in the colony, Anneke quickly realizes that she will need to make her own rules if she is to survive. When Roelof dies, Anneke marries Everardus Bogardus, the flamboyant minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. With this marriage, Anneke joins the elites of the colony - but when the colony''s new director provokes war with the region''s American Indians and her new husband emerges as the head of the anti-war opposition, she also finds herself in the midst of political turmoil. As difficulties mount, she must rely more than ever on her quick wits to protect herself and her growing family. Based on real events, Anneke Jans in the New World tells the story of an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life.

Betsy Pauly died five years before Jen Braaksma knew she had even lived. Betsy was an artist and writer hailing from Minnesota, Texas, Missouri, and Florida. Jen is an author and book coach from Ottawa, Canada. Yet, improbably, Betsy became Jen''s friend. When Betsy died, she left behind a heartbroken husband, a hole in the hearts of her family and friends, and a half-finished manuscript. To honour his wife, Chips wanted to publish her animal stories - Betsy was a dedicated animal welfare advocate who could never say no to a stray dog or cat (or dozens!). Turning manuscripts around is Jen''s job. But as she worked, she never expected to form a friendship with the woman on the page. How was that even possible? Readers might feel they ''know'' an author by their writing, but Jen''s experience went further. She got to see Betsy''s drafts and her process. She got to see Betsy''s mind. And in doing so, she got to know this extraordinary woman. This may be Jen''s journey, but it''s Betsy''s story. A story about dedication, passion, and the connection that comes from sharing your authentic self - even between two people who can never meet.