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.

The power of prayer is never stronger than in the heart of a stepmom. Faced with overwhelming odds and impossible situations, she seeks comfort and wisdom, courage and solace, and she finds it in the Lord God. She sees tough challenges all around, but she sees her Lord always closer, always holding her tight, helping her build the life she wants. This Book of Prayer will guide you, Stepmom, through your fears and doubts, help you deal with anger and despair, strengthen you with honesty and understanding, and connect you with the joy and gratitude that is a part of your life despite all interferences. You'll find here the safe return to the sacred place the Lord provides, so that you can be the stepmom you want to be and the daughter of God you were born to be. A stepmom needs a warm hug every day, and it's here in these pages. Start your journey of strength and peace here, today. You're not alone. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)

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

This is no Cinderella story - finally there's a fairytale where the stepmother is the hero!My Fairy Stepmother turns the Cinderella myth on it's head, with a caring stepmother who helps her stepdaughter find courage she never knew she had. Amelia's stepmother Maribel has a special secret. When Amelia has trouble sleeping, will her stepmother's secret be able to help? Children of blended families will be drawn in by the colorful hand-crafted illustrations, and the tale of magic and empowerment that follows. They'll identify with Amelia's character as she travels between two households, and faces challenges that only stepchildren face. And parents will love the positive portrayal of a stepmother who helps her stepdaughter with these challenges.

Each member has their own unique place in a family. Ron Deal explores the myth of the "blended" family offering practical, realistic solutions for stepfamilies.

Ten inspiring stories from the frontline of parenting, including Sara Leonardi-McGrath Stepmothers have a bad rap. Who gave Snow White the poisonous apple? Who enslaved Cinderella? Given that one in four Australian families are ‘blended’, it’s time to throw out the wicked stepmother image and give people a genuine account of what it’s like to walk in her shoes. Stepmother Love tells the stories of ten women who have chosen to take on the challenge of making a positive contribution to the lives of their stepchildren. There are no white picket fences or rose-coloured glasses, but there are many enriching insights into these families’ journeys to find happiness. This groundbreaking book reveals how these women overcame grief, hostility and even disinterest to build loving, long-term, trusting relationships with their stepchildren. There are millions of stepmothers working hard on their family relationships and Stepmother Love is an inspiring collection of stories that will uplift, help and support any woman who is doing the toughest parenting gig of all – as well as acknowledge their tough role and the courage it takes to make it work. Most importantly, Stepmother Love celebrates the commitment they show in the day-to-day care of stepchildren of all ages as an act of love. Sally Collins is the proud stepmother of two wonderful young women and set up her popular website www.stepmotherlove.com to share stories, tips and support. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and their young children.

“This page-turning true-life adventure is filled with rich and riveting details and a timeless understanding of the things that matter most.”—Dashka Slater, author of The 57 Bus “Brilliantly told in verse, readers will love Ken Sparks.” —Patricia Reilly Giff, two-time Newbery Honor winner “Lyrical, terrifying, and even at times funny. A richly detailed account of a little-known event in World War II.” —Kirkus Reviews “Middle grade Titanic fans, here’s your next read.” —BCCB “An edge-of-your seat survival tale.” —School Library Journal (starred review) A Junior Library Guild Selection The 2019 Golden Kite Middle Grade Fiction Award Winner A 2019 ALSC Notable Children’s Book The 2019–2020 Lectio Book Award Winner The 2020–2021 Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award List The 2020 Oklahoma Library Association’s Children’s Sequoyah Book Award Winner The Connecticut Book Award Winner In the tradition of The War That Saved My Life and Stella By Starlight, this poignant novel in verse based on true events tells the story of a boy’s harrowing experience on a lifeboat after surviving a torpedo attack during World War II. With Nazis bombing London every night, it’s time for thirteen-year-old Ken to escape. He suspects his stepmother is glad to see him go, but his dad says he’s one of the lucky ones—one of ninety boys and girls to ship out aboard the SS City of Benares to safety in Canada. Life aboard the luxury ship is grand—nine-course meals, new friends, and a life far from the bombs, rations, and his stepmum’s glare. And after five days at sea, the ship’s officers announce that they’re out of danger. They’re wrong. Late that night, an explosion hurls Ken from his bunk. They’ve been hit. Torpedoed! The Benares is sinking fast. Terrified, Ken scrambles aboard Lifeboat 12 with five other boys. Will they get away? Will they survive? Award-winning author Susan Hood brings this little-known World War II story to life in a riveting novel of courage, hope, and compassion. Based on true events and real people, Lifeboat 12 is about believing in one another, knowing that only by banding together will we have any chance to survive.

Telling the story of an unlikely friendship, STEPMOM, is a moving but ultimately uplifting tale. Two remarkable women, Jackie, a divorced mother of two, and Isabel, the career-minded girlfriend of Jackie's ex-husband, Luke, continually clash over the well-being of Jackie and Luke's children. But when Jackie discovers she is terminally ill with breast cancer, she finally has to come to terms with her husband's second wife for the sake of her children. Because of Jackie's illness, she and Isabel find friendship and mutual support as Jackie teaches the woman, who was her rival, to mother her children.

Most little girls grow up dreaming of being a mom, but hardly any of them dream of becoming a stepmom. Nevertheless, approximately one million new stepfamilies are created every year. It’s no secret, being a stepmother can be a living nightmare. But it can also be an enriching and rewarding experience—one that God can use to strengthen you, helping you survive and even thrive in the toughest job you never asked for. Written by two women who are stepmothers themselves—and know the difficulties of helping to raise someone else’s children—this book is filled with down-to-earth insights and advice for stepmothers from stepmothers. It also offers expert guidance from pastors and counselors on such issues as roles, expectations, realistic goals, organization, finances, holidays, vacations, relationships with stepchildren, negotiation, forgiveness, healing the past, building a strong marriage with stepchildren on the scene, dealing with in-laws and ex-spouses, sexual tensions in stepfamilies, health, depression, stress, and much more. While there is no magic formula to guarantee stepmother success, encouragement and practical wisdom are available in this much-needed resource.