A holiday "who done it" for kids. Tallie's Christmas lights were stolen, and she's determined to track down the culprit. Was it the mail man? Her slobbery pup Fuego? To find out, Tallie dons her spy gear, sets a trap, finds the thief, and trades him a more suitable decoration to get her glowing candy canes back.

Step into the captivating world of Show Strides, where two young horseback riders, Tally and Mac, learn important lessons at their stable: Quince Oaks. This series is a fresh and modern take on equestrian stories. The characters are modern, real, and grounded, navigating age-relatable issues of making new friends, waxing and waning confidence, family struggles, and discovering who they are. Show Strides introduces readers to characters who mirror their passion for horses and the challenges that come along with the sport. Mac Bennett, is carving her path in the medium pony hunter division. With determination and hard work, she's setting her sights on an extraordinary show goal that will test her limits. Can Mac defy expectations and achieve her goal? Will Tally continue riding sales ponies, or will she return to lessons on the barn's school horses? The anticipation is palpable as Tally and Mac grapple with uncertainty. In this next chapter of their stories, the two new friends, along with the rest of the Quince Oaks crew, will navigate the twists and turns of their equestrian aspirations, weaving a tale of friendship, determination, and the pursuit of their dreams. Join Tally, Mac, and the rest of their friends as they navigate the exciting world of equestrian competition! Unique paths converge, forming heartwarming friendships among riders and among riders and their horses.

I was first inspired to write this book after reading some of Anthony Bourdain's books, particularly Kitchen Confidential. I decided that I could write a story about the underbelly of the world of fine dining from my own perspective as a dining room manager, sommelier, and service professional. It is an autobiographic account of my own experiences, starting with when I was a teenager in high school and then detailing my first encounters in the workplace. Through trial and error, I find my true calling as a restaurateur. It is an odyssey, which describes in my own words the internal and external factors that shaped my career in the food and beverage industry. It covers four decades. During that time, there are subplots involving my friends and acquaintances, which revolve around the main theme of this book. Many social, political, and technological changes occurred, which had a direct and indirect impact on the course of this story and its ultimate conclusion. This book appeals to its readers on four different levels. It is a historical portrayal of how fashion, art, and music changed through the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties, and into the next century. It also describes some of our nation's most memorable events and tragedies as they relate to this book. It identifies with anyone who has ever held a job in the service industry or has ever wondered what it was really like. It has its share of romance and work politics, just like most jobs do. It is an informative guide for anyone interested in gastronomy and the world of eclectic beverages, in addition to exploring the wonders of the wine country from the perspective of a sommelier and service professional. Lastly, it has a moral element. It is a warning to all of the potential dangers and pitfalls of a demanding, high-pressure lifestyle surrounded by temptation, risk, and vulnerability. It is not for people with thin skins or inherent weaknesses. I have tried my best to combine all the things, which makes a book truly engaging as well as entertaining. There is humor, irony, fate, and hopefully, some valuable information for everyone to enjoy. Most of all, it's a good story!

Agatha Christie meets The Mitford Murders in this deliciously dark golden age mystery of wartime family secrets and lies in small town England. **DON'T MISS THE LASTEST JOSEPHINE FOX MYSTERY, A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS. OUT NOW!** April 1941, Romsey, England. Josephine 'Jo' Fox hasn't set foot in Romsey in over twenty years. As an illegitimate child, her family - headed by her controlling grandfather - found her an embarrassment. Now, she wants to return to what was once her home and uncover the secret of her parentage. Who was her father and why would her mother never talk about him? Jo arrives the day after the Luftwaffe have bombed the town. The local pub has been completely destroyed and rescue teams are searching for the remains of the seven people known to have been in the pub at the time the bomb hit. They are shocked, however, to uncover eight bodies instead. The eighth, unidentified, body is that of a teenage girl, who no one in the town claims to know. Who is she, how did she get there, but most importantly - who killed her? Teaming up with local coroner and old friend, Bram Nash, Jo sets out to establish the identity of the girl and solve the riddle of her death. In doing so, she also uncovers her own personal mystery. Everyone has secrets - some are just more deadly than others . . .

'Blending history and tragedy with an irresistible wit and verve.' – The Times The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson is an exciting story of friendship and determination during the Second World War, from the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea and The Star of Kazan. Illustrated with a gorgeous updated cover by Katie Hickey. Tally Hamilton is furious to hear she is being sent from London to a horrid, stuffy boarding school in the countryside. And all because of the stupid war. But Delderton Hall is a far more interesting place than Tally ever imagined, and an exciting school trip to the beautiful and luscious kingdom of Bergania whisks Tally into an unexpected adventure . . . Will she be able to save her new friend, Prince Karil, from terrible danger before it's too late?

From the blare of an alarm clock in the morning to snores and crickets in the evening, simple text explores the many loud noises one might hear during the course of a day.

"'One mushroom for you and one mushroom for me," said bear. "And another mushroom for me. That's fair. I'm big, so I need to eat a lot." Weasel did not agree.--

After being in New Zealand for only five days, the English Chamberlain family vanished into thin air. Thirty year later, the remains of the eldest Chamberlain child are discovered in a remote part of the West Coast, showing he lived in the wilderness for four years. Where is the rest of the family? Up on the highway, the only evidence that the Chamberlains had ever been there was two smeared tire tracks in the mud leading into an almost undamaged screen of bushes and trees. No other cars passed that way until after dawn. By that time the tracks had been washed away by the heavy rain. After being in New Zealand for only five days, the English Chamberlain family had vanished into thin air. The date was 4 April 1978. In 2010 the remains of the eldest Chamberlain child are discovered in a remote part of the West Coast, showing he lived for four years after the family disappeared. Found alongside him are his father's watch and what turns out to be a tally stick, a piece of scored wood marking items of debt. How had he survived and then died? Where is the rest of the family? And what is the meaning of the tally stick?

★ The Christmas Lights Collection is back, and this year's collection is better than ever! ★ Full of love, joy, and hope, this year's collection offers the celebration of freedom, sacrifice, and the greatest Gift ever given. These novellas feature two veterans and two active servicemen and their stories. ♥ The Stars of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig Christmas in Rockland--battleground or romantic? Avalon is ticked--seriously livid. Who does this Marine recruiter think he is? Her brother is a boy and is not ready to be sacrificed on the altar of "service to your country." No. Thank you. When trying to talk sense into Max doesn't work, she does the only think she can think of. Take it to the top. Gareth Hudson has an exemplary record as a Marine recruiter and knows a good man when he sees one. So when Maxton McCollum starts asking questions in a diner one afternoon, it was obvious. This was a match made in military heaven. One young man anxious to serve his country. One country ready to train him to be the best version of himself. So when Avalon walks into Gareth's recruiting office, all the wrong kinds of fireworks explode. In a peacekeeping move unlike him, Gareth asks for four Saturdays to change her mind. If he can't, he'll suggest that Max wait six months before signing up. Romance wasn't part of the bargain, and with their age difference, Gareth knows it still shouldn't be, but how do you resist the pull of love at Christmas? ♥ Most Wonderful Time by Toni Shiloh Gabe Lewis loves Christmas, just not as much as his eccentric mother who gave him and his siblings Christmas names. When he discovers that his new co-worker Shanée Mitchell wants nothing to do with the season, he makes it his mission to show her the true meaning. But he never expected feelings to develop for the Air Force veteran. Can he take a chance that she feels the same way or miss the best gift of all? ♥ The Road Home by Cathe Swanson Tally has tried to leave her military history far in the past, but she's not ready to go back to her former life, either. Can an old army buddy help her find a new road home? ♥ Now and Forever Christmas by Jaycee Weaver Romance ruined their friendship. Could this be the Christmas they repair it? CJ Sinclair never imagined trading her chef's toque for the domestic life but helping out her pregnant sister lets her regroup after a bad case of burnout. Though, if she'd known it meant spending time with her first ex, or that they'd be almost as awkward as in high school, CJ might've fled to Mexico instead. The past eight years as a professional musician for the US Army prepared Tobin McGhee for his new job as high school band teacher. They didn't prepare him for how he'd feel seeing CJ again. This time, though, he won't make the same mistakes. Can they make holiday music together and rekindle the friendship they once had, or will romance ruin everything again?