WINNER, TWO INTERNATIONAL LATINO AWARDS: BEST YOUNG ADULT NON-FICTION & BEST SELF-HELP Recipient of the 2009 Reader Views Literary Award: Non-fiction, Multicultural Division Child abuse is beyond the realm of reasonable people, yet it happens far too often. How does a child process abuse? What gives a child the courage to face daily humiliation, pain, and suffering? The damage for many children is beyond repair, and often opens up a lifetime of heartache and shame. As a child, Al Rivera endured the daily verbal and physical abuse of the one person who should have showered him with love: his mother, and from foster parents who took her place in raising him until he was eighteen. Despite daily abuse, however, Al Rivera faced each new day with a smile and with the excitement of a schoolboy counting the minutes until recess. Yet, Al was not a schoolboy when he found his joy. He was a barefoot shoeshine boy, from the age of four to eight, walking miles every day to find customers on city streets. Downtown Phoenix, Arizona became Al Rivera's playground, his source of happiness, where life was as real as the dumpster food that kept him alive. Al's daily search for food was just another game to him. Yet, unlike many children who grow up on the streets, Al Rivera overcame all odds to excel in school, sports, and business. He became the Number One minority masonry business in Arizona. His successful climb to the top is the subject of his next book. The Barefoot Shoeshine Boy will touch your heart like no other book. Its stories of a young boy's triumph over abuse and adversity will inspire, and its little chapter lessons will offer insights into the power of the human spirit to survive.

“Convincing tradecraft, coupled with a plausible look at the inner life of a spy with a license to kill, will remind readers of the best of John le Carré.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) Yogev Ben-Ari has been sent to St. Petersburg by the Mossad, ostensibly to network and set up business connections. His life is solitary, ordered, and lonely—until he meets Anna. Neither is quite what they seem to be, but while her identity may be mysterious, there is no doubt about the love they feel for each other. But the impassioned affair is not part of the Mossad plan. The agency must hatch a dark scheme to drive the lovers apart. Soon what began as a quiet, solitary mission becomes a perilous exercise in survival, and Ben-Ari has no time to discover the truth about Anna’s identity before his employers act . . . “The novel has a solid sense of intrigue and suspense, and its depiction of the world of international espionage feels accurate (as it should, since the author is a former Mossad agent). The characterizations are precise, too: these aren’t stick figures in a spy story but real people in a real environment. A nice blend of classic spy-novel conventions with a thoroughly contemporary setting.” —Booklist (starred review)

Set against the backdrop of imperial Russia, this tale of forbidden romance is the stuff of a great historical novel. It presents the account of the love between Count Nicholas Sheremetev, Russia's richest aristocrat, and Praskovia Kovalyova, his serf and the greatest opera diva of her time.

A young girl never forgets her first love. But what if this love is forbidden? Despite the age gap, Cndida had a crush on Andrew De Vito since she was eight years old. As time grew, so did her feelings for him. She never thought that one day, he would reciprocate her feelings for him, but he did. There was only one problem. He was already marriedto the church. Cndidas story, Secrets of Forbidden Love, is a beautiful and romantic tale of a forbidden love. It is also a story of love and forgiveness in several dimensions.

In a quiet town in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, everything in life is seemingly perfect for eighteen-year-old Kaley Kennedy. She has loving parents, loyal friends, and is dating the hottest boy in school. With only a few months left of her senior year, she's looking forward to an epic summer before heading off to Los Angeles for college. Without warning, a new math teacher interrupts Kaley's predictable little world, challenging who she is.

With his raven hair and snow-white skin, Lord Ansil Eirwin draws unwanted attention wherever he goes. After his father's untimely death, Ansil is set to become Duke of Ravenswood on his next birthday. The gallant and timid lord would never dream of shirking responsibility, so he subverts his desires in order to please his mother and new stepfather, Reginald.Orien Moore, known as the Huntsman, lives on the fringes and has forsaken close bonds with anyone, even the misfits he has taken in. When Orien is called upon by his brother, Reginald, to kill the pampered future duke, it is the perfect opportunity to seek revenge against his power-hungry brother. Orien formulates a plan to use Reginald's vicious request to his advantage by kidnapping Ansil and holding him hostage until he can fulfill his birthright.Soon Orien realizes that Ansil is nothing like he'd expected. Kind and joyful, Ansil enchants Orien and his ragtag group. And Ansil, in turn, cannot help but be curious about the gruff huntsman as Orien's vulnerabilities are exposed. Their mutual interest transforms into affection, followed by overwhelming desire. But they are living on borrowed time.With Reginald seeking power in Ravenswood, they have no way of knowing what will transpire once Orien returns Ansil to his proper place in society. The only certainty is that the odds are stacked against them. Will the young lord and his huntsman ever have the chance to experience the happily ever after they've found in each other's arms?***PLEASE NOTE: FOREVER MOORE is a romantic fairy tale-minus the magic-that features one reluctant lord, one brooding huntsman, and plenty of angsty, forbidden love. It's loosely based on a treasured fairy tale in a make-believe setting that isn't part of any specific time period and doesn't play by any traditional rules. (less)

When Justin Brant returns to his Irish estate after three years, he discovers that his ward Megan has become a beautiful young woman who is as interested in him as he is in her.

In many ways, Norma and Dalia were no different from any other girls living in Jordan. What set them apart was their plan to open a hair salon that would allow them to work outside the house and provide respite from the burdens of their ancient culture.

"Against All Odds: A Tale of Forbidden Love" is a story that revolves around a couple who fall in love despite being from different backgrounds or social classes. The story usually involves the couple facing obstacles and challenges due to their differences, which make their love appear forbidden or taboo. The couple may face resistance from their families, society, or even their own beliefs and values. They may have to overcome various hurdles such as financial difficulties, cultural differences, social norms, and prejudices. The story usually portrays the strength of the couple's love, as they fight against all odds to be together. It may have a bittersweet or tragic ending, highlighting the sacrifices and struggles the couple had to endure to be together. Overall, "Against All Odds: A Tale of Forbidden Love" is a classic story trope that captures the power of love to transcend societal norms and expectations, and the sacrifices that people are willing to make for their loved ones.

As next in line for the Evergreen crown, Prince Merrick Davendall's future involves ruling, marriage, and producing an heir of his own. But he's long been tormented by desires that are far from princely. Especially when the beautiful Cassius is promoted to be his new valet, and Merrick is struck by a longing like never before-a longing to know him far beyond royal and servant. After his father's passing, Cassius Havendale's sole duty is to provide for his family. A promotion to serve a pampered prince is something he endures only for their sake. Surely Prince Merrick has no understanding of the true suffering of the common people, nor could he possibly understand what it's like to desperately desire something he cannot have. Except the prince is not at all what Cassius imagined. Kind, humorous, and caring to those in need, he also shares Cassius's affinity for the arts. In fact, Merrick understands his deepest vulnerabilities in a most remarkable way. As their affection deepens, the underlying tension between them becomes unbearable and they're unable to ignore it any longer. But when the queen prepares a lavish ball with all the eligible ladies in the land in attendance, Merrick must fulfill his obligations to his country, and Cassius has the needs of his family to consider. They've long known their stolen moments would have to come to an end, but are they ready to give up one another and the idea of a happily-ever-after? ***PLEASE NOTE: EVER AFTER is a romantic fairy tale-minus the magic-that features one compassionate prince, one brooding valet, and plenty of angsty, forbidden love. It's loosely based on a certain treasured fairy tale in a wintery make-believe setting that wouldn't be considered contemporary but also isn't based on any specific time period and doesn't play by any traditional rules. *Please be sure to read the Dear Reader letter in the book before you begin.