Saving Akita


Book Description

Akira Watanabe’s greatest issue isn’t being a lesbian, but rather having a father with the maturity of a teenager. He’s a heavy drinker and hardly works, so she supports them both with a job at a local convenience mart. It’s there she befriends police sergeant Rosey Garatino, who frequents the store and lives in the same complex as the Watanabes. Akira has the hots for a Goth girl named Jade, but unfortunately, Jade likes guys, and she also drinks and smokes. One night when Jade comes into the store, drunk, and tries to steal some beer, Akira stops her. Jade gets sick, and Akira helps her outside. Sparks fly between them, but nothing happens. Later Akira hears rumors that Jade is a lesbian. The heat that smoldered between them now sparks into a fire, especially when Jade promises to quit drinking and smoking. Akira’s surprised to learn Jade is Rosey’s daughter. Growing up can be difficult in the best of situations, but the neighborhood where Akira and Jade live is dangerous, too. As their friendship deepens into love, will they be able to protect each other and find their happy ending?




The Zen Mama Guide to Finding Your Rhythm in Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond


Book Description

Being Zen(ish) is what we call it - and it's the ish that we endorse! Teresa Palmer and Sarah Wright Olsen, two moms from opposite sides of the world, are doing their best to raise happy, empathetic children while working, traveling, and maintaining their sanity. With seven kids between them, the founders of the much-loved Your Zen Mama blog know as well as anyone that motherhood doesn't exist in the highlight reel of life, and that finding even a fleeting semblance of calm among the epic ebbs and flows of parenting is usually all you can hope for. Forget perfection and prepare to get real, vulnerable, and dirty (mostly from guacamole) with Sarah and Teresa as they share knowledge they've collected over the years, from the Your Zen Mama community and expert mentors, as well as being in the trenches of parenthood themselves. In The Zen Mama Guide to Finding Your Rhythm in Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond, you'll find: Important questions to ask and decisions to make before and during pregnancy Essential guidance from a woman's point of view for conception, pregnancy, and childbirth Nutritional and dietary advice to support the complete health of both mother and baby Practical education about the mother's body before, after, and during pregnancy Science-based methods to promote a mother's healthy body and mind Expert advice from medical professionals, chiropractors, and pediatricians Engaging, accessible advice for every step of the newborn's journey Suggestions and tips for creating a birthing plan Comforting language to address fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, and complicated labor Access to the Your Zen Mama resource guide Whether it's dealing with fertility challenges or pregnancy loss, riding out a long and complicated labor, or juggling multiple kids (and work), these mamas have been through it - and have written this book to help you find your own glimpses of Zen along the way.




Childless by Marriage


Book Description

First you marry a man who does not want children. He cheats and you divorce him. Then you marry the love of your life and find out he does not want to have children with you either. The three he has are more than enough. Although you always wanted to be a mother, you decide he is worth the sacrifice, expecting to have a long happy life together. But that's not what happens. This is the story of how a woman becomes childless by marriage and how it affects every aspect of her life. This is the book of my heart, the one I had to write. Ever since I realized I was not going to have children, I have felt recurring grief and an emptiness in my heart. I am different from most women, but I have found that I am not alone. There are many of us childless women, and I think it's important to share our stories about what it's like when you don't have children in a world where most girls grow up to become mothers. I hope this book offers comfort to those who are childless and understanding to those who are not. If it makes you smile here and there, even better.




Hopeless Kingdom


Book Description

Akita’s family have always kept moving to survive. Sudan to Cairo. Cairo to Sydney. Sydney to Geelong. At each new place, challenges test and break Akita, her four siblings and her parents. Just when eight-year-old Akita is feeling settled at her new school and community in Sydney for the first time in her life, her parents decide to relocate to Geelong to be closer to their Sudanese relatives. The move is the beginning of a downward spiral that threatens to unravel the fabric of their family and any hope for finding peace and belonging. Told through the interchanging perspectives of Akita and her mother, Taresai, this coming of age story shines a light on the generational curses of trauma, and gives voice to the silent heartache of searching for acceptance in an adopted society which isn’t able to look past the surface of skin colour. Individually, the female narrators experience racism, rejection and despair, but together their narratives reveal a resilience of spirit and determination to transcend expectations of what a daughter, a sister, and a mother can be. Hopeless Kingdom is the winner of the 2020 Dorothy Hewett Award. Inspired by the author’s own experience of migration from Africa to Australia, this story signals a powerful new voice in Australian writing. From the Dorothy Hewett Award judges: 'Akec’s story is a powerful and timely exploration of belonging, race, gender and migration … and contrasts the lives of the mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers and cousins in this family through form and language, conjuring a powerful refraction of the experiences of African Australian women. Her storytelling is deeply personal, as well as relatable and insightful.'




One Big Ohana


Book Description

One Big Ohana is about learning about life as a whole. Regardless of their background, their lifestyle, or where they were from, their life means something. Some were rich. Some have had hard times. Their ways of thinking are different. Some learned about other people. Some are Christians. Some have had bad experiences with religion. But somehow, some way, they grew to be the big ohana, which in Hawaiian language means family.




52 Devotions for Dog Moms


Book Description

Your canine companion can teach you a lot about the unconditional love and loyalty of God. Is there anyone happier to greet you after a long day at work, a trip to the store, or even a quick shower, than your furry friend? It’s like they’ve been waiting to welcome you since the moment you left. And if you pay them no attention, they’ll sit patiently, ready to playfully engage when you are. 52 Devotions for Dog Moms is filled with cute stories, inspiring devotions, prayers, thought-provoking questions, and fun facts about dogs that demonstrate the faithfulness, joy, comfort, and goodness of God. Grab your sweet pup and be encouraged as you spend a few moments with God. Let his affection and devotion give you strength and confidence for each day, and remember how much he delights in being with you! • Beautifully designed full-color interior • Spot gloss, debossed, pearlescent cover • Inspiring devotions • Encouraging Scriptures • Prayers • Ribbon marker




MR. FAMILY


Book Description

"Margot Early's stories pack a powerful punch. She writes with warmth, wit and emotional depth. A sheer pleasure."—Debbie Macomber Kal Johnson is a still-grieving widower with a young child. He can't imagine marrying again—not for love, anyway. But it's becoming increasingly clear that his daughter needs someone besides him. A mother. Kal's solution is to place an ad in a local magazine. Wanted: Woman to enter celibate marriage and be stepmother to four-year-old girl. Send child-rearing philosophies to Mr. Family…. Erika Blade is a woman who's afraid of love. And sex. She answers the ad, figuring she's probably the only person in the whole world to whom a "celibate marriage" would appeal. After all, she does want children but she doesn't want to acquire them in the usual way. As it turns out, Kal likes her letter—and soon discovers that he likes her. More than likes. He's attracted to her. The one thing that wasn't supposed to happen. "Compelling from the first paragraph, Mr. Family— steals the reader's breath with its rare honesty and sensitivity." —Jean R. Ewing, award-winning author of Scandal's Reward "Mr. Family proves again that there is no voice quite like Margot Early's when it comes to the language of the heart." —Laura DeVries (a.k.a. Laura Gordon), author of contemporary and historical romance




They Said I Was Leaving at Eight


Book Description

A telling story that recounts a mother fighting for her life, while her daughter supports her journey of denial to acceptance of having to let go. The author recounts her mother’s undying love for her first husband Lieth, who was killed 50 years prior in WWII. In the final year, Leith returned from the other side to take her home. Recording her incredible mother’s near death experience, the author describes what to expect on the other side; we are never alone, we are surrounded and guided by beings of light, and our loved ones who have already passed over are waiting there for us. “This is a wonderful, wonderful book. It really opened my heart to my own grieving process and I could not put it down.” —Karin Jefferies, R.N “I could not put this book down from the first page. It opened my eyes to so much more than this physical world we live in.” —Hannah Louise, London, UK “Riveting! I couldn’t put this book down. The story reveals that the cycle of life and death is beyond amazing!” —Merle Hetherington, R.N.




Hachiko


Book Description

Imagine walking to the same place every day, to meet your best friend. Imagine watching hundreds of people pass by every morning and every afternoon. Imagine waiting, and waiting, and waiting. For ten years. This is what Hachiko did. Hachiko was a real dog who lived in Tokyo, a dog who faithfully waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station long after his owner could not come to meet him. He became famous for his loyalty and was adored by scores of people who passed through the station every day. This is Hachiko’s story through the eyes of Kentaro, a young boy whose life is changed forever by his friendship with this very special dog. Simply told, and illustrated with Yan Nascimbene’s lush watercolors, the legend of Hachiko will touch your heart and inspire you as it has inspired thousands all over the world.




I'm Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship


Book Description

An anthology of bark-out-loud original essays about dogs from some of today's most popular writers. Critically acclaimed memoirist Wade Rouse has gathered some of America's best known humorists- authors, comedians, and actors-to offer biting commentary on what it means to share a life, and a heart, with a dog. From battling for bed space to trying to transform a pampered NYC pup into a Texas rawhide, and from helping a shelter rescue navigate through her new life to interpreting dog run dynamics (and politics), being a canine companion has challenges as tough as any agility course, but laughter is just a tail-wag away. This collection features uncanny insight and witty prose from... Jen Lancaster Rita Mae Brown Laurie Notaro Jane Green Beth Harbison W. Bruce Cameron and many others, including a Foreword by Chelsea Handler's dog, Chunk