Adults

Readers want to understand that there is life beyond anxiety. Happiness needs to be within their grasp. The Missing Peace will show them how to touch it, feel it, and nurture their natural desires, not those with which society burdens us.

Often said but true, people need to learn to love themselves, but the real question is how to love themselves. How can they understand not to take the world and the other anxious people in it personally? They must understand how fear is underneath their anger. They long for acceptance but don't know how to accept themselves. The Missing Peace will give them a roadmap to these vital concepts.

Scientifically, anxiety is not a set of pre-wired and uncontrollable buttons. This book communicates how to understand these buttons, who installed them and how to unwire them. It makes people feel better all around. It goes beyond just not feeling anxious.

Practically, The Missing Peace will show readers how to cultivate and nurture the core traits mattering most to them. They will re-parent themselves to well-being, vibrant energy, and emotional stability and be shown there is just as much to nurture as there is to nature. It is never too late.

After reading this book, the reader will understand their anxiety, learn how to harness it, shift focus to what they love, and live the life they want.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY AND INDIE BESTSELLER!
A #1 LibraryReads pick!
An Indie Next pick!

A gorgeous hardcover edition featuring lavender sprayed edges! The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

Be prepared to fall in love with your dog all over again as you read these heartwarming stories of pet parenthood, and the unconditional love, companionship and amusement our dogs provide.

How do dogs do it? They brighten our days, act as our therapists, and become our best friends—without saying one word. They’re frequently hilarious, often heroic, and surprisingly human. And we learn so much from them, too.

You’ll find yourself laughing a lot, tearing up at times, and nodding your head in recognition as you read these tales, chosen from Chicken Soup for the Soul’s library, about the magical experience of sharing life with a dog. From comical to courageous, mischievous to miraculous, and everything in between, you’ll enjoy a wide variety of entertaining stories in these ten chapters:
• Meant to Be
• Miracles Happen
• My Very Good, Very Bad Dog
• Who Rescued Whom?
• What I Learned from the Dog
• Best Friends
• Natural Therapists
• Feline Friends
• A Dog’s Purpose
• Over the Rainbow

And your purchase of this book will help support the important work of American Humane, creating a better life for dogs everywhere.

Chicken Soup for the Soul books are 100% made in the USA and each book includes stories from as diverse a group of writers as possible. Chicken Soup for the Soul solicits and publishes stories from the LGBTQ community and from people of all ethnicities, nationalities, and religions.

Infuse your world with color, personality, and pattern!

Join artist, author, and professional stylist Lori Wenger as she expertly guides readers through two creative approaches to fabric stamping: foam stamping and block printing. Covering everything from pattern transfer to paint application to best stamping practices, no detail is overlooked.

First, Lori teaches readers how to create modern stamps using affordable foam sheets. They'll love making the 10 contemporary foam projects that range from tea towels to place mats and more. In the second part of the book, Lori delves into the timeless technique of block printing. Readers will learn how to carve intricate designs into blocks and apply this traditional method to 5 stunning projects. Finally, at the end of the book, readers will get the chance to expand their skills through 4 bonus projects that take their creativity to the next level!

- Two Creative Techniques: Readers will master foam stamping and block printing, infusing their projects with a blend of modern and traditional artistry.
- 19 Captivating Projects: 19 projects span tea towels, pillowcases, home décor, tote bags, T-shirts, and beyond, inviting creativity into every corner of readers' lives.
- Comprehensive Instructions: Equipped with full-size pattern templates, materials lists, and detailed photography, this guide ensures seamless execution for every project.

It's time for readers to add their personal STAMP to clothing, home décor, and more with this approachable book!

From New York Times bestselling authors Steve Berry and Grant Blackwood comes an action-packed adventure: in the waning days of the Cold War, Luke Daniels embarks on a quest in search of the legendary library of Ivan the Terrible--the unlikely key to ending a looming threat orbiting two hundred miles above the earth.

Wrapping up his latest assignment for the Magellan Billet, Luke Daniels receives a surprise visit from the head of a former-CIA operation named Sommerhaus -- a failed attempt to assemble an espionage network within the Ukraine on the eve of the Russian invasion. Sommerhaus ranks high on Luke's list of painful regrets for it was during this mission that his friend, CIA case officer John Vince, was captured by Russian operatives and supposedly executed. But Luke is provided some shocking news. Vince is alive, in failing health, locked behind the walls of Russia's brutal Solovetsky Island prison, and has a critical message he'll give to no one but Luke. Needing no further convincing Luke vows to bring Vince home.

However, just as he manages to extract his friend from prison Vince tragically dies and his final words are rambling and incoherent. Just bits and pieces. But enough to plunge Luke into a hunt for something lost since the 15th century. The legendary library of the first Tsar of All Russia, Ivan the Terrible.

Within that priceless collection of rare manuscripts is the key to unraveling a modern-day cipher and stopping a secret Soviet satellite program that still exists. But Luke is not the only one on the trail. Others, both inside and out of Russia, want the library for a totally different reason -- to re-start the Red Star program and finally unleash its destructive potential. Luke's mission is clear. Find the lost library, solve the puzzle, and prevent Red Star falling.
 

"A thrilling ticktock on the borderland slayings and the effort to solve them."--Texas Monthly

The shocking true-crime story of a U.S. Border Patrol agent turned serial killer, the four sex workers whom he mercilessly killed, and the upended border town of Laredo where his heinous crimes occurred.

Twelve days is all it took.

Melissa Ramirez, Claudine Anne Luera, Guiselda Hernandez, and Janelle Ortiz were four marginalized women striving to make ends meet as sex workers. They looked out for one another. But they would soon share a connection that none of them could have imagined. When Melissa was found dead, the other three women were on edge but assumed they were safe. Twelve days later, they too were dead and police had detained an unlikely suspect--Juan David Ortiz, a ten-year veteran of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where he carried a badge, a service revolver, and was entrusted to protect the community in which he eventually killed. From September 3 through September 15, 2018, Ortiz, a husband and doting father to three children, lured his victims into his white Dodge truck and drove them to the outskirts of town where he violently executed them, leaving them dead or dying on the sides of dark, rural roads.

In this fast-paced, electrifying tick-tock, Pulitzer Prize-winning USA TODAY journalist Rick Jervis tells the gripping story of the four murders that shook the small border town of Laredo, and the quest to unmask a cold, calculated killer who was hiding in plain sight. The Devil Behind the Badge is also a deeply human portrait of the four lives lost and an attempt to uncover what motivated Ortiz's descent into darkness. Along the way, it raises serious questions about the border crisis, the abuse of law enforcement, and the challenges of a federal agency to police its own ranks.

From the author of the Read with Jenna Bonus Pick A Little Hope, an uplifting and emotionally resonant novel set in a Delaware beach town about a local restaurant owner at a turning point.

Three generations of Schmidts have run their family’s beachfront restaurant and Jack has been at the helm since the death of his father. Jack puts the demands of the restaurant above all else, with a string of failed relationships, no hobbies, and no days off as proof of his commitment to the place. He can’t remember the last time he sat on the beach, or even enjoyed a moment to himself.

Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been gradually snapping up beloved eateries along this stretch of coast and are pursuing Jack with a very generous offer to take Schmidt’s off his hands.

Jack craves companionship and maybe even a family. He wonders if closing the door on the restaurant might open a new window for him. But who would he be without Schmidt’s, and can he trust DelDine’s claims that they will continue to employ his staff and honor his family’s legacy?

When he receives startling news from the past, Jack begins to reshape his life and forge unexpected new friendships. But will he really let go of the very things that have defined him?

You can grow almost anything in a container--and do it almost anywhere! Whether you're tight for space, time, money, or other resources or just want to keep things satisfyingly simple, container gardening is the perfect way not only to explore your love of plants but also to "grow" your knowledge.

How to start? This is where the Container Gardener's Handbook comes in. Created by The Old Farmer's Almanac, America's longtime trusted gardening resource, this third book is part of a best-selling gardening series that began with the extremely popular Vegetable Gardener's Handbook (now its sixth printing!) and was followed by the beautiful and inspirational Flower Gardener's Handbook. This newest book is a one-stop guide to container gardening success. Inside is everything that you'll need to know about growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, and ornamentals in containers to produce mouthwatering harvests and stunning displays. Filled with beautiful photos that make the book itself a joy to behold, the Container Gardener's Handbook features a simple style and language that opens up a world of fun and creativity for gardeners of all experience levels.

Highlights include . . .

• Many gardeners will agree that there's nothing as rewarding as enjoying produce that they've grown themselves. Fortunately, growing crops in containers enables just about anyone to experience this joy--with no garden plot needed! Find out how to care for and harvest flavor-packed miniature tomatoes, salad greens, peppers, basil, chives, blueberries, citruses, cantaloupes, and other favorites to serve at your next meal!
• Looking for eye-catching displays to perk up a space? Discover sure-to-please ornamental plants for any situation, plus ideal ways to arrange them in decorative containers for the special look that you want. Let the mantra "thriller, filler, spiller" help you to design pots with a stunning focal point surrounded by complementary plants that fill in around it and trail over the edge!
• Learn about plant care, including how to identify and control diseases and pests, select the best potting mix, apply water and fertilizer--and overcome "FOOF" (fear of overfertilizing)!
• Wondering how big a container your plant needs? Don't know whether to use terra-cotta or plastic pots? Find out how to choose the proper container by size, type, purpose, and more.
• Some plants, like geraniums, have lots of varieties from which to choose. If you're overwhelmed by the many options available, just check out the recommended selections for 38 specially profiled plants.
• For added enjoyment, browse--and learn from--the insightful and entertaining anecdotes from experienced gardeners included in this helpful guide.

This third book in a best-selling Old Farmer's Almanac gardening series takes the stress out of striving for container gardening success and replaces it with fun and excitement. Whether a gardener's goal is more food, more sensational displays, better use of space, a new growing adventure, or all of the above, the Container Gardener's Handbook makes it easy for containers to be in everybody's garden--and many other spots!

Get Out meets Parasite in this eerily haunting debut and Reddit hit—soon to be a Netflix original movie starring Blake Lively—about two homeowners whose lives are turned upside down when the house’s previous residents unexpectedly visit.

As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.

As soon as the strangers enter their home, uncanny and inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

In a quest to advocate for her daughter, Pepper Stetler uncovers the dark history of the IQ that leads her to question what exactly we are measuring when we measure intelligence.

When Pepper Stetler was told that her daughter, Louisa, who has Down Syndrome, would be regularly required to take IQ tests to secure support in school, she asked a simple question: why? In questioning the authority and relevance of the test, Stetler sets herself on a winding, often dark, investigation into how the IQ test came to be the irrefutable standard for measuring intelligence. The unsettling history causes Stetler to wonder what influence this test will have over her daughter's future, and, if its genesis is so mired in eugenics, whether Louisa should be taking it at all.

So what are we measuring when we try to measure "intelligence"? As she uncovers the history of IQ, exposing its roots in eugenics, racism, xenophobia, and ableism, Stetler realizes that the desire to quantify intelligence is closely tied to a desire to segregate society. She traces its legacy from inception to the present day, where schools and society have adopted the IQ as shorthand for an individual's aptitude--in essence, their worth. Boldly, Stetler questions how this rigid definition of intelligence has influenced who society holds up as successful and, perhaps more importantly, what it is that we miss when we judge someone solely on their measured intelligence.

Blending a mother's love and dedication to her daughter with incisive historical and cultural analysis, A Measure of Intelligence investigates the origins and influence of the IQ test on our modern education system, questions how we define and judge intelligence, challenges its flawed foundation, and argues for a fundamental reevaluation of how we understand an individual's perceived potential.

Named An Anticipated Summer Read by Bustle ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ SheReads ∙ New York Live ∙ Woman’s World ∙ and more!

A woman inherits a beach house, along with a series of weekend guests, while butting heads with the irritable (and irritatingly handsome) man next door, in this sparkling new escape from Jane L. Rosen.
 
When a Zoom disaster upends Addison Irwin’s decade-long career at a posh Manhattan advertising agency, things look bleak for the thirty-something mid-western transplant. But an unexpected inheritance from an aunt she barely remembers—a property on Fire Island, complete with guest house and artist’s studio—changes everything.
 
While debating whether to stay or sell, Addison learns that she’s also inherited her aunt’s list of eclectic guests, tying her to the island for seven summer weekends. Eager to convince Addison to keep the house rather than let a new buyer build a monstrosity in its place, the neighbors welcome her to their laid-back community. Well, all except the moody guy next door, who seems intent on glowering his way through life.
 
Steadfast in her path since college, Addison is determined not to let this detour on Fire Island throw her off track. But soon, between the revolving door of weekend visitors and the up-and-down relationship with her neighbor (and his adorable dog), she finds herself in unfamiliar territory. Should she try to pick up where she left off—or embrace entirely new possibilities?

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

An intimate and expansive look at Judy Blume’s life, work, and cultural impact, focusing on her most iconic—and controversial—young adult novels, from Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. to Blubber.

Everyone knows Judy Blume.

Her books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century?

In The Genius of Judy, her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular children with genuine thoughts and problems. But behind those deceptively simple tales, Blume explored the pillars of the growing women’s rights movement, in which girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, fulfilling relationships, and even sexual pleasure. Blume wasn’t trying to be a revolutionary—she just wanted to tell honest stories—but in doing so, she created a cohesive, culture-altering vision of modern adolescence.

Blume’s bravery provoked backlash, making her the country’s most-banned author in the mid-1980s. Thankfully, her works withstood those culture wars and it’s no coincidence that Blume has resurfaced as a cultural touchstone now. Young girls are still cat-called, sex education curricula are getting dismissed as pornography, and entire shelves of libraries are being banned. As we face these challenges, it’s only natural we look to Blume, the grand dame of so-called dirty books. This is the story of how a housewife became a groundbreaking artist, and how generations of empowered fans are her legacy, today more than ever.

Perfect for fans of Laura Childs and Amanda Flower, this second Bee Keeping mystery takes Bailey Briggs to the brink as murders threaten the future of her granny’s Bee Festival.

The small town of Humble Hills, Colorado, is abuzz with excitement over the upcoming annual Bee Festival, sponsored by Bailey’s Granny Bee and the Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch. The long weekend of festivities includes a beauty pageant, beekeeping demonstrations, a local restaurant bake-off, and a 3K Bear Run where all the participants are dressed as bears. The bake-off brings in a television crew from California to film, so it’s the most drama-filled part of the weekend, especially when the famous celebrity host winds up dead.

Because the celebrity was holding her bracelet and had been witnessed having an altercation with Bailey’s best friend Evie shortly before his death, everyone suspects Evie of the murder—and Bailey is quickly on the hunt for clues to clear Evie’s name, alongside Granny Bee and her bunch of geriatric misfit friends. Bailey’s potential new honey, Sheriff Sawyer Dunn, is none too pleased to have Bailey buzzing around the investigation, but Bailey’s determined to uncover the truth, rescue her grannie’s beloved Bee Festival, and save her bestie.

They say you get more flies with honey, but in this case, more honey may mean you end up dead. And a little competition never hurt anyone—unless it ends up killing you.

Recipes that capture the flavors of la dolce vita, from Bologna to Brooklyn—Italian and Italian American-ish cakes, cookies, pies, pastries, desserts, tarts, savories, and breads from the James Beard Award–nominated brains behind one of America’s best bakeries

A joyous celebration of Italian, American, and Italian American tastes and traditions, Dolci! is a compendium of molto delizioso baked goods from both sides of the Atlantic. In almost a hundred recipes, James Beard–nominated baker Renato Poliafito pays homage to pastries of the Old World and the New—with perfected versions of classics like Pastiera and Torta Caprese, Honey-Ricotta Black and Whites, and Butter Cookies.

Poliafito puts his own unique spin on the baking traditions of both countries with recipes of his own invention that are a mashup of Italian flavors and American innovation. Think Aperol Spritz Cake, Italian Krispie Treats, Malted Tiramisu, Panettone Bread Pudding, and Mocha Orange Whoopie Pies. In addition to the many cakes, pies, tarts, and cookies, Poliafito also shares a host of savory recipes: Sourdough Focaccias, Perfect Grissini, Cacio e Pepe Arancini—and for good measure, Italian-inflected cocktails (Amaro Root Beer Float!). A vibrant comingling of two great culinary cultures filtered through the mind of an American with the heart of an Italian, Dolci! hits the sweet spot between Italian and American baking.

With more than 35 Monster body options, plus myriad variations for limbs, mouths and teeth, horns, antennae, tails, scales, and so much more, you will never make the same Monster twice. Choose from wide open mouths with fangs to adorable Monsters with bunny ears and a cat tail to Monsters with hair poufs and scales. Make one-eyed spiders or three-eyed aliens, dragons with scales or little friends that don't match any known monster to date. There is nearly no limit to the variations you can combine!

All Monsters use worsted weight and/or sport weight yarn and a size G-6 (4 mm) hook. Patterns are appropriate for beginner through advanced crocheters. If a stitch is new to you, just turn to the Glossary for detailed instructions on how to work it. Photos are included for each pattern piece and any complex stitches so you can be sure you are on the right track as you work.

Choosing your next Monster's look is half the fun. Get family and friends involved in picking options for their own Monster and share the creativity! Get excited for these Monsters to skitter, galumph, stomp, and roll right off your hook!