A memoir of the author's experience living in the streets of Los Angeles and his relationship with Gracie, a bipolar girl whose life ended tragically.

Julie Reece Deaver's classic novel of loss and gradual acceptance has touched the hearts of ordinary readers for more than twenty years. Morgan and Jimmy have been best friends forever, and know each other inside out. They do everything together—they even argue well. But after a terrible accident, Morgan suddenly has to face life alone. Without Jimmy around, though, it’s like the best part of her has died. How could he do this to her? This moving novel has been used in grief counseling teen in counseling centers around the country, and it remains as fresh and poignant as when it was first published.

This book is one woman's report from the front lines of digital dating. Grace Anderson, a novelist with grown children, an ex-husband, an age beginning with the number "4" and an acute case of writer's block, turns to cyberspace for diversion/inspiration. She finds it in the form of a bright, charming, articulate, obviously accomplished man she meets in a chat room late one evening. The two of them begin to build a relationship the old-fashioned way - with their words and their imaginations. When her cyberspace swain turns three-dimensional, the good news is that he is indeed bright, charming, articulate, obviously accomplished, and better yet, drop-dead handsome. The more, interesting news is that he is a Princeton University Wunderkind, twenty-eight years her junior--younger than both of Grace's sons. So, just what happens when the perfect love meets a most socially unacceptable age gap? The road to finding that out will captivate you. The storyline is timely... and the romance... timeless.

Fourteen-year-old Gracie Taylor lives in a messy house, but it’s not her mess. Her mother has been a compulsive hoarder for the last six years, and it’s only getting worse. Their kitchen is covered with towers of Tupperware. The dining room table is buried under clutter. And in the living room, clothing fills every available space. Her back-at-home sister promises to help, but all she seems to do is argue with their mother. Her best friend Jilly is no help either. She’s too concerned about her new boyfriend at her new school to listen to Gracie’s problems. Meanwhile, her mother continues to fill the house with junk. If Gracie can’t get her mother’s hoarding under control, she can kiss her dreams of film school goodbye. Gracie is the one who takes out the trash. Gracie is the one who keeps the toilets functional. Gracie is the one who clears the clutter blocking the exits. If left to her own devices, her mother would become a level five hoarder in no time. Her only hope is to get her mother on Clean It Up!, a show that helps compulsive hoarders. But getting her on the show won’t be easy. Fortunately, with the help and support of her film club friends, Gracie forms a plan. It might just take filming the biggest documentary of her life to make it happen.

Bodyguard Clay West wasn't happy about his latest assignment: protecting a movie star. But seven-year-old Gracie Bryant needed his help and he intended to keep the adorable kid safe. Her mother, Libby, was another story. The drop-dead stunner made him ache, but he hid his attraction, especially since Libby seemed like a typical stage mother misusing her child to attain fame and fortune. And yet, as Clay witnessed a mother's vulnerability and discovered the heart beneath Libby's smooth facade, this born-and-bred cowboy rethought his mission. This could be more than a life-and-death assignment for Clay. This could be his destiny.

As Jim Bob sat there looking at his father he knew what had to be done. He would have to call his boss and request a leave of absence. His boss was a nice guy and would understand. He would stay on the ranch as long as he was needed, even if it meant losing his part-time job and not finishing college. His family and the ranch were that important to him. After his father suffers a debilitating stroke, Jim Bob Johnson returns to the Johnson family ranch, in the southwestern United States, which has been in the family for three generations. The ranch also has oil wells, and the management of these falls to Jim Bob. His father returns home and cannot do any work. He is still mad at Jim Bob for going off to college. Jim Bob stays, in spite of his father's anger towards him. Jim Bob is thrust into taking charge of both the ranching and oil business. Shortly after his return, Jim Bob runs into his old girlfriend, Lillian. Although they have a rough time getting reacquainted, they soon reconcile their differences and make plans to get married. But will Jim Bob and Lillian stay in Ochoa to raise the next generation of Johnsons? Can they keep up with the demanding pace required to operate a ranch?