Meet Kevin Pugh, 12-year-old couch potato. Now meet Cromwell, his part beagle, part potato chip dog. Kevin's looking forward to spending his summer doing as little as possible. Unfortunately, Kevin's father, former Chicago Bears star player/super-sports fanatic, Howie Pugh, feels differently. So does Cromwell, who has suddenly and mysteriously developed a fascination with agility competitions: running up seesaws, leaping over hurdles, soaring through hoops (sometimes). If he has to do anything, Kevin would rather do something for newly obsessed Cromwell, but dog agility lessons do not constitute a sport in his father's mind, so football camp it is. Until some well-timed events collide, literally, and soon Kevin's found a way for he and Cromwell to take classes, and the upstart Team Cromwell is born.Andy Behrens has written a hilarious novel with a dry-as-dirt protagonist who's constantly tortured by the goings-on around him. It's also a charming story about a boy and... Views: 40
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO PROTECT YOUR CHANCE FOR HAPPINESS? Journalist Brenda Contay seems to have it all: a Pulitzer Prize, plenty of money and lots of friends. Just one thing is missing: a relationship that counts. That seems about to change when lawyer friend Marion Ross invites Brenda to go fishing in northern Minnesota. But they won’t be roughing it: they’ll be staying on a big, comfy houseboat. Charlie Schmidt has a cabin nearby, and before long, Brenda is thinking a lot about Charlie’s gracefulness and good looks. But two other men have followed the women. Louis Rohmer knew Marion in college, and has an Internet scheme to steal everything she’s worth. Jerry Lomak is much more dangerous: Marion’s legal skills destroyed him in court. He’s headed for prison, but Lomak has no intention of doing time, or of letting a woman lawyer get away with her “crimes.” It’s a beautiful place, northern Minnesota. Cold, clear, unblemished. But none of it will count when Brenda Contay must choose between losing her chance for happiness, or committing a terrible crime. A Brenda Contay Novel of Suspense: Book 2 Views: 40
Fritz Carter has carved out a nice life in his hometown of Serenity, Georgia. Together with his brothers, they've made the family farm more successful than ever. Fritz wants for very little—save for the girl he'd loved in high school. The girl who'd left Serenity behind...left Fritz behind as well. The girl who just sauntered into the local dive bar, looking all woman and hotter than ever. Fritz would have to be blind not to want Kai back in his bed. He'd also have to be stupid to give her his heart. Not again. Not right away. They've both changed, and past hurts haven't healed as well as either had thought. A few sultry summer nights in Kai's arms don't equal love...even if his heart says otherwise. A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora's Cave. Views: 39
'I wish I had a dog . . . It could be a big dog or a little one. It could be any colour or breed. Just most of all I'd like a hearing dog.'Eleven-year-old Jake is dreading his new school. No one understands how hard it is for him to make friends.But then Jake meets Echo. Echo is a stray puppy, training to be a hearing dog. With Echo by his side, Jake's confidence grows.But then something terrible happens and Jake and Echo are separated. Determined to find his way back to Jake, Echo sets out on the difficult journey home.With a long road ahead and danger all around, have Jake and Echo lost each other forever? Views: 39
A captivating Cornish saga set at the turn of the century, from the bestselling author of The Boy With No Boots and The Girl by the River Following a terrible storm, seven-year-old Lottie is rescued from a shipwreck by local Cornishman, Arnie Lanroska. Her clothing suggests she comes from a wealthy family, but Lottie's back bears the scars of a severe beating, and how she came to be on a cargo ship in the first place remains a mystery . . . Arnie and his wife already have two young children, Matt and Tom, but are desperate to keep Lottie. They decide to foster her, despite outcries from the local community, and though Matt appears hesitant to get close to Lottie, Tom quickly warms to the new sister in his life. But when tragedy strikes the very heart of the Lanroska family, the repercussions could change the lives of everyone close to them . . .A nostalgic and heart-warming family saga, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Margaret Dickinson Views: 38
A big-hearted and undeniably appealing memoir about a man and his dog. After authoring thirteen successful books that tell other people’s stories about the human-animal bond, Allen is ready to tell his own story—a remarkable journey with a highly intuitive but troubled dog who literally saved Allen’s life.ReviewPraise for A Dog Named Leaf:“A Dog Named Leaf is a very touching and well-written book that clearly comes from Allen Anderson’s heart. Although I am not a religious or spiritual person and couldn’t wrap my mind around some of the things that happened in Allen and Leaf’s story, the more I read, the more my skepticism melted. I am convinced of Leaf’s ability to sense what Allen needed. This book will make readers feel as if they know Leaf, and they’ll grow to love him too.”—Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, PhD, New York Times best-selling author of twenty-four books, including When Elephants Weep, Dogs Never Lie about Love, and The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving “With its dramatic dual journey, A Dog Named Leaf explores the intangibles of health and healing without attempting to explain them away. This memoir’s pulse-pounding brushes with danger, startling synchronicities, and insights on fulfilling one’s purpose in life offer hope and new perspectives on the expansive power of love. It truly is the most unusual dog book ever.”—Dr. Marty Becker, resident veterinarian on Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show and featured columnist vetstreet.com“When I rescued my companion dog Jethro years ago, I realized this wonderful being also rescued me and taught me numerous valuable life lessons. Many people have similar stories, and this wonderful book about another amazing dog, Leaf, will be impossible to put down. In A Dog Named Leaf, two guys—a troubled and scarred shelter dog and a former police officer turned writer—face life and death challenges together. Its unexpected twists and turns kept me pinned to the pages and cheering for Leaf and Allen to heal and succeed together. The strong compassionate emotional bonds they formed—deep and enduring friendship and love—will move you in many ways. Read this most inspirational book and share it widely.”—Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals, Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals, and The Animal Manifesto: Six Reasons for Expanding Our Compassion Footprint"A remarkable story. It will reaffirm your faith in the unique and mutually healing bond that can form between humans and animals." —Gwen Cooper, New York Times best-selling author of Homer’s Odyssey "Transcending the oft-told story of the human/dog bond, Allen and Leaf teach each other lessons of trust, love, and faithin the face of life’s tumult. A must-read for anyone who has experienced the guiding spirit of a dog.”—Susan Wilson, author of The Dog Who Danced "I was moved by this story of resilience and love. It conveys beautifully the vulnerability and richness of a dog's life and the connection between their biographies and our own."—Jonathan Balcombe, author of Second Nature“Part Marley and Me and part Jon Katz, A Dog Named Leaf by the Minnesota writing team of Allen and Linda Anderson is the story of an abandoned cocker spaniel the couple rescued, despaired of, learned to love...The Andersons hire dog communicators to get to the bottom of Leaf's problems. ("I was left," Leaf apparently tells one of them mournfully.) But more problems loom: Allen Anderson is found to have a brain aneurysm, and he faces risky surgery. And then doctors find a blood clot in his leg. It is Leaf, Anderson wants us to know, who helped him through this terrible time, just as he helped Leaf adjust to his new home...While you might not believe everything in this very spiritual book (and how I wish their method of calmly explaining the rules to Leaf so that he will stop misbehaving would work with my Rosie), the story is endearing, and the many photographs of Leaf running, swimming, and chasing a tennis ball in south Minneapolis are adorable." —LAURIE HERTZEL, BOOKS EDITOR, Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 27, 2012"This touching, almost lyrical book is a very personal story bravely told by the author and his wife... This is a lovely story that will uplift anyone who has ever loved a dog." —Amy Shojai, About.com Guide, December 27, 2012From the Back CoverThe inspiring true story of a man and a dog coming together at just the right moment for miracles to occur. Views: 37
A classroom hamster has to be ready for anything, but suddenly there are LOTS-LOTS-LOTS of big surprises in Humphrey's world. Some are exciting, like a new hamster ball. But some are scary, like a run-in with a cat and a new janitor who might be from another planet. But even with all that's going on, Humphrey finds time to help his classmates with their problems. But will Mrs. Brisbane's unsqueakable surprise be too much for Humphrey to handle? Views: 37
The year is 1864, and twelve-year-old Gabriel hopes to become a famous jockey one day. Although he is the son of a free black father and a slave mother—making him a slave as well—he loves to help his father, one of the best horse trainers in Kentucky, care for the thoroughbred racehorses on Master Giles's farm.But the violence of war disrupts the familiar routine of daily life on the farm. One-Arm Dan Parmer and his band of Confederate raiders are threatening area farms and stealing horses. When Gabriel's father enlists in a Colored Battalion to help the Union Army and earn enough money to purchase freedom for his wife and son, Gabriel is both proud and worried. But the absence of his father brings the arrival of Mr. Newcastle, a white horse trainer with harsh, cruel methods for handling horses...and people.Now it is up to Gabriel to protect the horses he loves from Mr. Newcastle and keep them safely out of the clutches of One-Arm Dan and his men.Author... Views: 36
Family secrets run deep for Grace, a young girl growing up in Cape Town during the 1980s, spilling over into adulthood, and threatening to ruin the respectable life she has built for herself. When an old childhood friend reappears, Grace�s memories of her childhood come rushing back, and she is confronted, once again, with the loss that has shaped her. She has to face up to the truth or continue to live a lie � but the choice is not straightforward. Grace is an intimate portrayal of violence, both personal and political, and its legacy on one person�s life. It meditates on the long shadow cast by personal trauma, showing the intergenerational imprint of violence and loss on people�s lives. Views: 36
