Grandpa is always up to something, whether he is indoors or outdoors, and he makes life interesting and exciting for Diya and Manish (Manu). Then he starts behaving secretive about his new friend Mr. Raghuram and when they question him, he is evasive. In this set of seven stories, unravel the mystery of Mr. Raghuram’s identity – and then join Diya and Manu as their life turns upside down when Mr. Raghuram comes to stay. Whether it is a visit to the doctor or a simple camping trip or a sojourn on a farm or attendance at a local dog “fair”, Mr. Raghuram knows how to steal the show!

Seventeen-year-old Gwen is preparing to audition for New York City’s top music schools when her grandfather mysteriously disappears, leaving Gwen only a phone message telling her not to worry. But there’s nothing more stressful than practicing for her auditions, not knowing where her grandfather is, and being forced to lie about his whereabouts when her insistent great-uncle demands an audience with him. Then Gwen meets Robert, also in town for music auditions, and the two pair up to brave the city without supervision. As auditions approach and her great-uncle becomes more aggressive, Gwen and Robert make a startling discovery. Suddenly Gwen’s hopes are turned upside down, and she and Robert are united in ways neither of them could have foretold. . . .

A collection of sixteen short stories by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A stunning “portrait of the enduring grace of friendship” (NPR) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZE A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. Look for Hanya Yanagihara’s latest bestselling novel, To Paradise.

Born in a rural county of Arkansas in 1936, Bill, also known as Sonny and Red in those days, lived through an abundance of social and environmental changes during his younger years and into young adulthood. The son of a restaurant executive, Bill and his family moved 9 times during his school years, adding numerous adventures to Bill s young life. As you read about this Rambling Boy and his friends you will find laughter in the stories he tells of becoming a news paper entrepreneur in Baton Rouge at the age of 8, living on the Davis farm in Arkansas, growing up with the great Buffalos (friends) of Fort Worth, playing football in Memphis and Mississippi, serving his country in the Philippines, and eventually finding his niche in Louisiana."

Reeling and in shock after witnessing a gruesome accident, Margot fled her home state of Florida, choosing a path that would take her far away from the pain. She left everything behind, including her little sister, Lottie. Now, seven years later, mysterious happenings on the island lead Margot to the realization that she must return home and face the ghosts of her past. All four suspense-filled novels in Kelly Utt's gripping Hideaway Isle series— together in one ebook package with a bonus short story prequel! About this set: 1. THE SISTERS OF KESTREL CAY Margot ran away from the scene of a terrible accident… but she can’t run forever in this suspenseful tale of dark secrets and sisterhood. Will Margot and Lottie have what it takes to protect each other? Can Lottie forgive Margot for running away? 2. THE GIRL IN HIDEAWAY PARK Basia Guthrie has always been a loner. Abandoned by her father, then ignored and neglected by her mom and a handful of detached stepparents, she grew up knowing the only things she could count on were her own smarts and ingenuity. Are Basia’s psychic abilities real? Will she be savvy enough to avoid getting in over her head? And what does it all mean for other residents of the island? 3. THE MAN AT NIMBUS MARINA Rags Bertram is a man with a past. But he isn’t one to boast about it. A former soldier in the U.S. special forces, Rags came to the island and bought an old marina to stay off the grid and out of trouble. Will Rags realize the seriousness of a looming threat in time? Will he have the courage to turn back to his old way of doing things? And who will become a casualty and take the fall? 4. THE WOMAN ON SEAGLASS LANE Annie Langley moved south for a slower pace and warmer weather that would sooth her New York bones. Little did she know just how intensely the island would take hold of her. Will Annie find the courage to remain open to unexpected experiences and opportunities? Will the past she’d hoped to escape resurface? And will her own life change beyond recognition in the process? About the Hideaway Isle series: It’s paradise on the sparkling tropical shores of Hideaway Isle, Florida. A place where vacationers go to get away and residents enjoy year-round luxury. Despite postcard-worthy appearances, there’s trouble in paradise. Lurking just beyond the sun, sand, and sea are threats that promise to wreak havoc in this seemingly idyllic utopia. With riveting turns that will leave you breathless, each Hideaway Isle novel features a deep dive into the ongoing story, told from a different islander’s point of view. Author's Note: The stories in the Hideaway Isle Series are intertwined. Emotions build, mysteries deepen, and secrets are revealed as you read the series in its entirety.

"This is a singular reference tool . . . essential for academic libraries." --Reference & User Services Quarterly "Students, professionals, and scholars in the social sciences and health professions are fortunate to have the ′unwieldy corpus of knowledge and literature′ on death studies organized and integrated. Highly recommended for all collections." --CHOICE "Excellent and highly recommended." --BOOKLIST "Well researched with lengthy bibliographies . . . The index is rich with See and See Also references . . . Its multidisciplinary nature makes it an excellent addition to academic collections." --LIBRARY JOURNAL "Researchers and students in many social sciences and humanities disciplines, the health and legal professions, and mortuary science will find the Handbook of Death and Dying valuable. Lay readers will also appreciate the Handbook′s wide-ranging coverage of death-related topics. Recommended for academic, health sciences, and large public libraries." --E-STREAMS Dying is a social as well as physiological phenomenon. Each society characterizes and, consequently, treats death and dying in its own individual ways—ways that differ markedly. These particular patterns of death and dying engender modal cultural responses, and such institutionalized behavior has familiar, economical, educational, religious, and political implications. The Handbook of Death and Dying takes stock of the vast literature in the field of thanatology, arranging and synthesizing what has been an unwieldy body of knowledge into a concise, yet comprehensive reference work. This two-volume handbook will provide direction and momentum to the study of death-related behavior for many years to come. Key Features More than 100 contributors representing authoritative expertise in a diverse array of disciplines Anthropology Family Studies History Law Medicine Mortuary Science Philosophy Psychology Social work Sociology Theology A distinguished editorial board of leading scholars and researchers in the field More than 100 definitive essays covering almost every dimension of death-related behavior Comprehensive and inclusive, exploring concepts and social patterns within the larger topical concern Journal article length essays that address topics with appropriate detail Multidisciplinary and cross-cultural coverage EDITORIAL BOARD Clifton D. Bryant, Editor-in-Chief Patty M. Bryant, Managing Editor Charles K. Edgley, Associate Editor Michael R. Leming, Associate Editor Dennis L. Peck, Associate Editor Kent L. Sandstrom, Associate Editor Watson F. Rogers, II, Assistant Editor