A clever tale of a ladybug who learns that success comes from her own smarts, skill, and hard work—not lucky charms and chance. Discover all of the lovable creatures and their stories in the Once Upon a Garden series. Layla is a ladybug with a lucky charm for every occasion: lucky socks for running, a lucky pencil for tests, and a lucky watering can for her flowers. When Layla enters a baking event, she is counting on her good luck to help her bake a delicious cake. But is luck the only ingredient that matters?

Lucky Strike McAllister isn't very lucky. In fact, he isn't much of anything most days, to hear his MC tell it. Since the death of his father from cancer and the suicide of his pops, he's done nothing but find ways to get into trouble. He's talented with an airbrush gun and an amazing artist when he sets his mind to it, but more often than not, the things Lucky sets his mind to are pretty self-destructive. When Thorn and his partner Cain, are forced to fish Lucky out of the ocean on a chilly fall night, both men decide he needs a keeper and who better than them to keep Lucky from destroying himself? Too bad Lucky can't see that they're trying to help. Bitter and lashing out, he does everything he can to sabotage the only chance he's ever been given at truly belonging to someone. Will Lucky be able to put aside his anger long enough to get to know the two men who have taken such an intense interest in him, or will he run from them, his club and everything he's ever known, and burn the last of his luck in the process?

An uplifting story of a determined dung beetle who finds his unique strength in creating beautiful things inspired by nature, flowers, friends, and the garden. Doug has trouble lifting heavy balls of dung. He just doesn’t feel as strong as the other dung beetles. When Doug feels down that he isn’t tough enough, a passing butterfly helps him see things in a different light and he realizes that strength comes in many forms.

From the winner of the inaugural Matilda Prize comes a heartwarming coming-of-age story about growing up in Australia when you're caught between two cultures Layla Karimi has been cursed by the evil eye. Well, that's what Layla's superstitious grandmother tells her. And Layla reckons it makes sense as she's sort of Australian and sort of Lebanese: a 'halfie' who doesn't really fit into either world. And when all hell breaks loose at the first beach party of the summer, Layla finds herself caught between her friends and the Lebanese kids who call themselves 'the Cedar Army' (of which her cousin Sufia is the Queen Bee). One group has been wrongfully accused and Layla knows the truth that would clear their name. But will she speak up? PRAISE 'a warm-hearted and authentic coming-of-age story about the impact of race and place on our sense of self and belonging ... perfect for fans of other recent Own Voices releases like Sunburnt Veils by Sara Haghdoosti and Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim' - Mischa Parkee, Books + Publishing

Layla is a schnoodle dog who belongs to a diverse family held together by love, respect, and five very important rules that include wise advice that biting is only for emergencies and that toilet water is not for drinking. Layla loves her days taking walkies in all kinds of weather and playing with her siblings. But when Layla's family adopts a baby girl from China, the schnoodle learns that with a little patience, love, and respect, there is always room for acceptance. Layla's Rules is a delightful, mostly true story for both children and adults about adoption, acceptance, and family as told by an adorable, rule-oriented schnoodle dog.

First-wave feminism takes front and center in this fearless novel, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, about women determined to succeed in a man’s world—only to be foiled by their own ambition “A Woman Needs a Man Like a Fish Needs a Bicycle.” It’s the 1970s, and the sexual revolution is just beginning. Four women have decided to open a feminist publishing house. Named in honor of the gorgon who turned men’s hearts to stone, MedusaPublishing gives the so-called Four Furies a platform for speaking out against female oppression. Layla is a wealthy, fundamental radical, intolerant of anyone whose ideals deviate, even slightly, from her own—that is, until she finds herself seduced by a married man; tiny Alice is “all mind and very little matter,” until she discovers the dangerous New Age practice of goddess worship; Stephanie leaves her unfaithful husband in pursuit of sexual fulfillment with other men—and women; and Nancy, tired of washing her fiancé’s socks, discovers she has a remarkable mind for business. Big Girls Don’t Cry is the story of four women who are determined to change the world, and who, over the course of two-and-a-half decades, ultimately transform themselves.

Family Feuds The stunning acquittals of Scott and Layla West reverberate throughout the justice system, and the powerful cartels take notice. The Wests were untouchable, and their drug empire is still intact, but family ties begin to unravel. New mom Lucky has a lot on her shoulders as she continues to deceive the head of the Juarez cartel. Partnering with her twin brothers, Lucky lines up the pieces on the chessboard, but she underestimates the king and queen.