Looking back from Ireland, Miss Madge Perfect remembers the time when social work was her life – before Dan, her ambitious young deputy, conspired with the bosses at County Hall to ‘ease her out’. They called it ‘restructuring’, with no place for a fifty-something woman who put her clients first. The arrival of the oddball sociology professor, Mitchell, hired by County Hall to evaluate service delivery in her office, brings a change in Madge’s outlook on her life and work - his university seems as mad as her local authority. Mitchell catching fire is good for a laugh, but after he is disgraced following allegations by a female student, Madge’s feelings hibernate again. When a child in her care goes missing and a body is reported, she becomes the centre of a media firestorm as the suits prepare to dismiss her. Waiting in the wings, however, is Billy, a client in his childhood but now deputy manager and bouncer at the Golden Slipper massage parlour. Billy has information to her advantage but wants something in return. Can she sacrifice her principles and resort to blackmail? In this humorous and thoughtful novel set in a gritty town in the north-east of England between the Falklands War and the miners’ strike, two middle-aged people, surrounded by ‘young people nowadays’, find ways of making sense of life, love and the meaning of happiness in middle age.

Are you still stuck with the dysfunctional coping strategies you learned as a child? Adults who grew up in an alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional home often adopt behaviors to deal with the Chaos and neglect around them -- behaviors that no longer work for them as adults. Repressing spontaneity, over-controlling, reacting impulsively from fear, and rejecting our own playfulness are just some the coping mechanisms that become obsolete and destructive when carried into adult life. Author Megan LeBoutillier grew up in an alcoholic home, and in Little Miss Perfect she shows how any Adult Child can move from the of helpless victim into a healthier, empowered stance of independence and self-love. Her guide to self-healing offers hands-on exercises that include: -- Journal writing -- Special stress management for ACOAs -- Dream work -- Body awareness -- Affirmations and Visualizations Filled with these and other recovery tools and insights, Little Miss Perfect is a compassionate handbook for recovering people who are ready to refashion the world of the past to suit their present needs.

An etiquette expert answers animal readers' questions about common concerns such as getting along with parents, giving an oral report, and the importance of writing thank-you notes, as well as more unusual ones, including how to avoid being eaten by one's parents.

They're back! Rediscover the zaniest and most lovable characters you've ever met in the Mr. Men and Little Miss series--the best-selling, timeless, and universal books, which have sold millions of copies worldwide. Digitally available for the first time, these bright, charming books, with their easily recognizable characters, are easy enough for young readers and witty enough for adults. This fantastic read-to-me edition is read by Audie and Grammy award-winning narrator of Harry Potter, Jim Dale, who perfectly captures each character's unique voice and personality. Get ready to fall in love with Mr. Men and Little Miss books all over again or for the very first time!

As a young California girl growing up in a blue collar neighborhood, Taylor Young dreamed of being popular, beautiful, and acquiring a wardrobe to die for. Not to mention marrying a handsome, successful man and living happily ever after in a gorgeous house with three wonderful children. Now, at 36, Taylor has reached the pinnacle of her dreams, but is it all about to unravel? As the new school year approaches, Taylor prepares herself for playing the perfect alpha mom: organizing class activities, fund-raising, and chairing the school auction. But the horror! Her archrival, bohemian mom Marta Zinsser, is named Head Room Mom of Taylor's daughter's fifth grade class. As tensions rise at committee meetings and school activities, the two rivals seem to be destined for a final confrontation. But as Taylor plans her next move, she is floored by a more serious blow at home-her husband has been secretly unemployed for the past six months. With her posh lifestyle crumbling, Taylor struggles to maintain her alpha image -- but could Marta, who cares little about appearances, be her only true friend?

Kim excelled at everything--that is what her father expected. But her friends notice that she does not smile anymore, and her boyfriend is afraid that Kim doesn't have time even for him.

Provides advice on etiquette from prekindergarten to post-graduate status for parents and children.