About the Book In a post-apocalyptic, post-pandemic world, a woman lives in a tent under an underpass disguised as a troll and a young girl who believes she is a fairy lives in a trashcan.... Are they who they say they are? Each one thinks the other is delusional, but can they believe in each other enough to help each other and the universe? Come find out and join in this comedic and poignant adventure! About the Author River Willow loves all things sparkly! Especially the stars in the sky. Her favorite thing to do is gaze at the constellations and imagine all the wonderful adventures the universe holds. When she sees a shooting star, she closes her eyes and makes a wish saying an old rhyme she learned: Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might have this wish I wish tonight. ~Anonymous May your starlight be bright, and you get all the wishes you wish tonight! ~River Willow

Reality TV can be murder in the Jersey Shore mysteries from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series. What if a reality TV show like Jersey Shore set up production in the fictional seaside resort Sea Haven? What if hitting the gym, tanning, and doing a little laundry aren’t the only things the contestants get into. By-the-book officer John Ceepak and his wisecracking young partner, Danny Boyle, have to babysit the buff and boozy kids partying it up in a Jersey shore rental house for TV’s summertime hit Fun House while simultaneously trying to stop the rowdy kids from breaking the law up and down the beach. But even Ceepak and Danny can’t stop one young cast member from being murdered - and others from being threatened with the same fate.

A comeback cookbook for the perennially popular snack cake, with unique sweet and savory recipes that highlight the whimsical nostalgia of America's favorite dessert. In celebration of the 85th anniversary of Twinkies®, Hostess® has updated and expanded their beloved and quirky classic The Twinkies Cookbook. This new edition includes the very best recipes from the original, combined with twenty-five new and wonderfully wacky recipes submitted by Twinkies aficionados across the country. From a Twinkie-filled take on chicken and waffles to Twinkie pumpkin pie and beyond, these colorful concoctions will surprise and enchant the Twinkie fan in all of us.

Chocolatier Lanie Heaven has good friends, a booming business, and the adoration of the citizens of Merritt, Alabama. But she also has a secret. After the devastating breakup with her long time college boyfriend, she lost a baby and the hope of ever having a child - the thing she desires above all else. Though still grief-stricken eighteen months after the accident that killed his wife and best friend, Judge Luke Avery is lonely for the company of someone other than his three-year-old daughter, Emma. When Luke moves into the apartment above Lanie’s candy shop, Lanie and Emma fall in love at first sight and Luke finds himself along for the ride. It’s so easy for the three of them to slip into a life as sweet as the candy in Lanie’s shop. But when Emma calls Lanie “Mommy,” Luke realizes things have gone too far; he has to propose to Lanie or walk away. He isn’t ready for marriage, but engaged isn’t married. Lanie eagerly accepts but as the evidence stacks up, she must accept that Luke’s love is not equal to her own. Can Luke find a way to slay his demons before the sweet life they have created goes completely south? Sensuality Level: Sensual

The last thing he needed was to inherit a rundown opera house. And now, he’s just found a body inside. Scott Drayco isn’t a typical private detective: a former concert pianist with the rare condition of synesthesia—where he "sees" sounds as colors, shapes, and textures—he turned to a career in law enforcement after a violent attack put an end to his music dreams. When Drayco inherits a rundown Opera House in a Virginia seaside town following a particularly brutal case, he just wants to arrange a quick sale for the unwanted “gift” while nursing his battered soul in a peaceful setting near the shore. Those hopes are shattered when a dead body turns up on the Opera House stage, a mysterious “G” carved into the man’s chest. With himself a suspect in the murder, Drayco is forced to dig into very old, and very dangerous, secrets to clear his name. Standing in his way are a wary sheriff, hostility over coastal development, and the seductive wife of a town councilman. But as Drayco digs deeper, it becomes increasingly apparent he's running out of time to solve the unusually twisty mystery before tensions explode into more violence and he becomes the next victim. Read the first three novels in the Scott Drayco mystery series—PLAYED TO DEATH; REQUIEM FOR INNOCENCE; and DIES IRAE—finalists for the Shamus, Silver Falchion, Daphne, Foreword Reviews, and Kindle Book Awards Book in this series have been a finalist for the Shamus, Silver Falchion, Daphne, and Foreword Review Awards "Lawson's protagonist is greatly compelling." - Publishers Weekly Book Prize "Worth putting on your reading list."- Library Journal ​"I fell in love with the main character and found myself cheering him on to solve each mystery." - 5-star review ​"So good, I read it twice from beginning to end." - 5 star review Keywords: brainy detectives, thrillers, traditional mysteries, crime thrillers, murder, mystery series, private investigator, detective books, crime series, thriller series, crime thriller series, vigilante justice, detective series, private investigator series, PI series, private eye series, crime authors, thriller authors, psychological thrillers, mystery boxed sets, crime box sets

“A thoughtful, entertaining history of obsessed music collectors and their quest for rare early 78 rpm records” (Los Angeles Times), Do Not Sell at Any Price is a fascinating, complex story of preservation, loss, obsession, and art. Before MP3s, CDs, and cassette tapes, even before LPs or 45s, the world listened to music on fragile, 10-inch shellac discs that spun at 78 revolutions per minute. While vinyl has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, rare and noteworthy 78rpm records are exponentially harder to come by. The most sought-after sides now command tens of thousands of dollars, when they’re found at all. Do Not Sell at Any Price is the untold story of a fixated coterie of record collectors working to ensure those songs aren’t lost forever. Music critic and author Amanda Petrusich considers the particular world of the 78—from its heyday to its near extinction—and examines how a cabal of competitive, quirky individuals have been frantically lining their shelves with some of the rarest records in the world. Besides the mania of collecting, Petrusich also explores the history of the lost backwoods blues artists from the 1920s and 30s whose work has barely survived and introduces the oddball fraternity of men—including Joe Bussard, Chris King, John Tefteller, and others—who are helping to save and digitize the blues, country, jazz, and gospel records that ultimately gave seed to the rock, pop, and hip-hop we hear today. From Thomas Edison to Jack White, Do Not Sell at Any Price is an untold, intriguing story of the evolution of the recording formats that have changed the ways we listen to (and create) music. “Whether you’re already a 78 aficionado, a casual record collector, a crate-digger, or just someone…who enjoys listening to music, you’re going to love this book” (Slate).

The Dalton house, built almost 300 years ago by 12-year-old Trisha Dalton's ancestors, is the setting for the unravelling of Trisha's family under the pressure of cocktail hours that grow ever longer, gambling debts that grow larger, and bonds of love and loyalty that grow weaker. Growing up, Trisha learns the story of Sara Wilde, her "many greats" aunt who lived in the same house when it was new. A suitor had offered Sara's father an important tract of land in exchange for Sara's hand in marriage and Sara's father agreed. But when she refused the suitor, the suitor had her hanged as a witch. Sara's father, instead of coming to her defense, chose the land over his daughter. Now Trisha's father has to recover a big piece of the family land that he lost gambling. He decides to take the family to Atlantic City one Easter so that he can gamble. He is planning on winning a lot of money. He is planning on getting his land back.

When eighteen-year-old Orchid Faye leaves her childhood home behind, she takes with her the baggage of a negative self-image imposed upon her by her narcissistic mother. Determined to prove her value as a person and escape her mother’s influence, she heads for New York City where, she believes, the impossible is possible. As this strong but untested young woman navigates through the pitfalls of a big city, she lands a job that leads to her career as a model. In Manhattan, she makes friends and starts to fit in. When she meets the divorced Sam LeVine, a handsome and charismatic businessman with two pre-teen daughters, Orchid believes she has found true love. Sam introduces her to the glitter and glamour of Manhattan society and their East Hampton playground, but Orchid discovers there’s no easy road to happiness. As she fights to retain her identity, revelations of long-buried secrets trigger a shift in her perceptions. Confronting the challenges, she learns lesson in heartbreak, compassion and truth. Growing Up Ugly is a compelling coming-of-age novel that examines family, love, and identity through the eyes of an appealing, courageous young woman whose struggles and triumphs take the reader on a thrilling journey. Praise for Growing Up Ugly: The fine narrative in this novel drives the story forward consistently and smoothly. Readers understand exactly what’s happening at any given point in the story and the descriptive elements give them a wonderful sensory experience. ... In terms of basic narrative, this is the best book I’ve read in the past few months. – Mike Foley, author and editor

This comprehensive volume examines the history of American food culture and cuisine today, from staple ingredients to dietary concerns. Everyday, without realizing it, Americans plan their days around food—what to make for dinner, where to meet for brunch, what to bring to a party. As a nation of immigrants, the U.S. has food and foodways that few countries in the world have. This addition to the Global Kitchen series examines all aspects of food culture in the United States, from the early Colonial period and Native American influences on the new immigrants' food to the modern era. The volume opens with a Chronology that looks at United States history and significant food events. Coverage then dives deep into the history of food in the U.S., and is followed by a chapter on influential ingredients in American cooking. Chapters break down American cuisine into appetizers and side dishes, main dishes, and desserts, looking at typical meals and flavors that characterize it. Additional chapters examine food eaten during holidays and on special occasions, street food and snacks, and restauarants. A final chapter looks at issues and dietary concerns. Recipes round out each chapter.

A puzzling attack. A web of dark secrets. A race against time. In the tranquil seaside town of Cape Unity, Virginia, a young girl's puzzling attack shatters the calm, revealing a dark undercurrent of violence. Detective Scott Drayco, a seasoned investigator with a keen eye for detail, senses there's more to the story than meets the eye. With no leads, no motives, and no suspects, Drayco is drawn into a complex and dangerous investigation that uncovers twisted relationships and buried family secrets. As he digs deeper, Drayco encounters a disfigured man with a mysterious past, his enigmatic Goth son, and a potential link to a series of unsolved murders in Washington, D.C. Every discovery pulls him further into a web of deceit and danger, where each shadow conceals a threat, and every step could be his last. Drayco's growing feelings for a town councilman's wife add another layer of complexity to the case, testing his judgment and focus. As the investigation intensifies, Drayco must untangle the sinister web before the shadowy figure strikes again. With time running out, the next victim could be anyone—even Drayco himself. Praise for BV Lawson's Scott Drayco Mystery/Thriller Series: "Worth putting on your reading list." - The Library Journal "Lawson's protagonist is greatly compelling." - Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize "Lawson uses the gothic features of the abandoned Opera House to great effect, creating an atmospheric background for the crimes and the solving of them, all of it accompanied with music that's almost like another character. The pace never sagged and it kept me enthralled." - Long and Short Reviews "Lawson's book was so good, I read it twice from beginning to end...The citizens of Cape Unity are as diverse and multi-layered as any person living in the large cities, and Lawson portrayed them splendidly." - Reader's Favorite Reviews "The storyline here is nicely structured, and creatively ties together two murder mysteries, which occurred decades apart. The small town setting is ideal, the lead character engaging, and the supporting cast interesting and diverse. Overall, a solid start to this series." - Omnimystery News "A nice tight mystery in a realistic setting. Totally enjoyable." - Terrie Farley Moran, national bestselling author of the Read 'Em and Eat Mystery Series Keywords: brainy detectives, thrillers, traditional mysteries, crime thrillers, murder, mystery series, private investigator, detective books, crime series, thriller series, crime thriller series, vigilante justice, detective series, private investigator series, PI series, private eye series, crime authors, thriller authors, psychological thrillers