Includes a sneak preview of a new story in the series, entitled 'The nanny nightmare.'

An honest and groundbreaking guide to understanding the complicated emotions that develop between stepmothers and children. When faced with often overwhelming challenges, what woman with stepchildren is unfamiliar with that “stepmonster” feeling? Half of all women in the United States will live with or marry a man with children. To guide women new to this role—and empower those who are struggling with it—Wednesday Martin draws upon her own experience as a stepmother. She's frank about the harrowing process of becoming a stepmother, she considers the myths and realities of being married to a man with children, and she counteracts the cultural notion that stepmothers are solely responsible for the problems that often develop. Along the way, she interviews other stepmothers and stepchildren and offers up fascinating insights from literature, anthropology, psychology, and evolutionary biology that explain the little-understood realities of this unique parent-child relationship and—in an unexpected twist—shows why the myth of the Wicked Stepmother is the single best tool for understanding who real stepmothers are and how they feel.

You found the love of your life, and you vowed to have, to hold and to stepmother. You always thought that in time you'd grow to be the perfect, loving family. So why does it seem that the harder you try, the more unappreciated you feel? As a stepmother, therapist and founder of the popular Web site stepsforstepmothers.com, Dr. Rachelle Katz knows all too well how challenging stepmotherhood can be. Based on thousands of in-depth interviews and the latest research, she's created a powerful program to help you: * Alleviate stress and take care of yourself * Bond with your new family * Set and enforce clear boundaries * Get the respect you deserve * Strengthen your relationship

Every year hundreds of thousands of American women become stepmothers. Committing to partners who are already parents, we gain relationships with young people who may--or may not--be pleased by our presence. When Dorothy Bass married a man with a four-year-old daughter, she was hesitant to embrace the title "stepmother," with its many negative cultural associations, and she soon realized she had very little sense of what this new role required of her. In Stepmother, Bass explores the complex emotional, material, and spiritual terrain we share with our stepchildren, and with their other parents. Bringing together insights from sociology, history, clinical studies, and literature, she unpacks practical questions to help readers explore the deeper issues: What is my definition of home? How does this relationship affect all the other relationships in this family? And how do I deal with the emotional triangles of stepfamily life? Bass centers us on the work to be done in our own hearts, where spiritual strength can grow and love can be intentionally built, bringing peace and hope instead of scarcity and competition. By being honest about our own pain and the pain of others, we open ourselves to the love and mercy often born from unexpected relationships. It is here that we make way for constructive family dynamics.

The perfect wife. A fairytale family. Don’t believe your eyes… Jeanie and Matthew are a happily married couple who both have teenage children from previous relationships. No one said it would be easy to raise a blended family under one roof but Jeanie and Matthew are strong. They will make it work. And whilst Jeanie’s step-daughter Scarlett rejects her, Jeanie will just have to try harder to win her over. But Jeanie has a past. A terrible secret she thought she’d buried a long time ago. And now, it’s coming to the surface, threatening to destroy her new marriage. Someone is playing a terrifying game on Jeanie and she must put a stop to it once and for all. After all, a fairytale needs a happy ending…doesn’t it. A compelling, dark and twisty psychological thriller that will grip fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and The Teacher. Readers are raving about The Stepmother: ‘It was so good I have been hiding in the toilet at work reading this on my phone as I needed to find out what happened!!…Dark and super twisty. A real page turner and I loved it.’ Consumer Reviewer ‘Loved it !!! My god the journey I went on while reading this…From beginning to end I was so hooked on this… Beyond 5 stars.’ (5 stars) Itsy Bitsy Book Bits ‘I don't believe many will be able to put this brilliant novel aside…really hooks you in on every level.’ (5 stars) Booklover Catlady ‘Tension and paranoia rides high in this gripping novel…Don’t start this late at night unless you plan on losing sleep…’ Jenny Blackhurst, author of The Foster Child ‘It's certainly a fast paced and taut thriller…which I guarantee once you start reading it you will find impossible to put down.’ (5 stars) The Book Review Café ‘An all-absorbing, chilling, psychological thriller. My husband could not prise my Kindle out of my hands the weekend I read this!’ (5 stars) Bloomin’ Brilliant Books ‘Incredible twists and turns that I didn't see coming…a great read that is full of tension that really hooks you in.’ The Coffee and Kindle ‘This one grabs you and doesn't let go... I read it in 3 hours because I simply had to find out what was happening!’ (5 stars) The Suspense is Thrilling Me ‘A clever, intense and fast-paced psychological thriller that left me on the edge of my seat until the very last page!’ Ginger Cat Blog ‘This is a terrifyingly twisted psychological thriller…a compelling read leading to a sleepless night for the reader.’ (5 stars) Strong Book Reviews ‘The Stepmother had me turning pages in a frenzy. I was desperate to find out where it was going! A cracking read.’ Cass Green – author of The Woman Next Door ‘ A dark, twisting thriller that shows all too well how you can never escape the sins of your past.’ Simon Kernick ‘An action packed fast paced psychological thriller with lots of characters with dark secrets.’ TBC on FB

Polly can't believe that her dad is marrying Veronica Kreep! She's convinced that Veronica is a witch, but no one will listen to her. When she meets the Kreeps' even weirder relatives, she knows she has to act fast. Can Polly stop the wedding before she gets sstuck with the Kreeps for ever?

A funny, honest, and empathetic resource for the novice stepmother on maintaining sanity, solving hair-raising identity issues, regaining a sense of humor, and surviving what you did for love.... What happens when the honeymoon comes to a screeching halt and you're faced with a houseful of rambunctious children, an ever-present ex-wife, and a new husband trying to balance the chaos? This helpful guide includes advice on: • The kids: Adjusting to suspicion, resentment, and biological-parent loyalties • The ex-wife: Living calmly alongside her, whether she's a psycho or the perfect mother • The holidays: Accommodating old family traditions and developing new ones • The sex: Keeping love alive through the kids' bed-wettings and nightmares • The finances: Building safety nets and avoiding financial disasters • The urge to be evil: Accepting it, and then stopping yourself from saying something you'll regret—to him, the kids, or her • Plus an invaluable list of resources, websites, publications, and organizations specifically for the new stepmother

Who's taking care of me? Popular author, psychotherapist, mother, and stepmother Sue Patton Thoele has the answer to that question. She offers practical advice and emotional support for women who find themselves in transitional families -- but it's not the usual nuts and bolts advice about such issues as dealing with hostile ex-wives or learning to effectively discipline. Instead, Thoele's book is the first to focus on stepmothers' unique emotional and spiritual needs.

If you're a stay-at-home mom considering going back to work, these are some of the questions that have likely come to mind. Returning to the workforce can be a daunting prospect. It requires reigniting old contacts (including those with coworkers once your junior), marketing yourself strategically, and building confidence-whether you've been out of the workforce for two, six, or fifteen years. Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin understand, because they've been there. As Harvard MBAs who successfully relaunched their own careers after staying home full-time with their children, they know it can be done-with careful planning, strategizing, and creativity. Now, in BACK ON THE CAREER TRACK, they offer a prescriptive, seven-step program that includes: · Assessing career options and updating job skills · Networking and preparing for interviews · Getting the family on board. Packed with expert advice from career counselors and recruiters, and insightful stories from others who have been through the process, this book also offers an inside look at what employers and universities are doing to help relaunchers today-including how many businesses are recognizing them as valuable assets. As frequent speakers to women's groups, professional schools, and corporations, Cohen and Rabin provide a thorough, unique program from two experts on the topic of career reentry. BACK ON THE CAREER TRACK is sure to become the classic guide in the field.

Baby care book for parents of babies 0-6 months