This is a book celebrating the incredible, awesome, special individual within each of us. It’s also a book for anyone who has ever mismatched her shoes or trimmed her own bangs when a professional might have been a better choice or added too much soap to the washer and watched it overflow. (Not that KariAnne Wood has ever done any of these things.) Fans of The Magnolia Story and The Pioneer Woman will love this debut memoir from the beloved Thistlewood Farms blogger. So Close to Amazing is a collection of hilarious and heartfelt reflections on getting it almost right―and how, instead of giving up, we can choose to simply embrace our real selves right where we are. It’s a story of transparency and honesty and recognizing that perfection is completely overemphasized and overrated. It’s about grace and learning from mistakes and rejoicing in every victory, no matter how small. Because when you find joy in the “you” God created you to be, you’ll discover the amazing that was there all along. Contains beautiful DIY project ideas anyone can do, whether you’re Pinterest perfect or craft challenged—homemade signs, centerpieces, recipe walls, and more!

In her hilarious book of essays, Parks and Recreation star Retta shares the stories that led to her success in Hollywood. In So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know, Parks and Recreation star Retta takes us on her not-so-meteoric rise from roaches to riches (well, rich enough that she can buy $15,000 designer handbags yet scared enough to know she’s always a heartbeat away from ramen with American cheese). Throwing her hard-working Liberian parents for a loop, Retta abandons her plan to attend med school after graduating Duke University to move to Hollywood to star in her own sitcom—like her comedy heroes Lucille Ball and Roseanne. Say what? Word. Turns out Retta might actually be on to something. After winning Comedy Central’s stand-up competition, she should be ready for prime time—but a fear of success derails her biggest dream. Whether reminiscing about her days as a contract chemist at GlaxoSmithKline, telling “dirty” jokes to Mormons, feeling like the odd man out on Parks, fending off racist trolls on Twitter, flirting with Michael Fassbender, or expertly stalking the cast of "Hamilton," Retta’s unique voice and refreshing honesty will make you laugh, cry, and laugh so hard you’ll cry. Her eponymous sitcom might not have happened yet, but by the end of So Close to Being the Sh*t, you’ll be rooting for Retta to be the next one-named wonder to take over your television. And she just might inspire you to reach for the stars, too.

Meet, marry and make a baby: That's how it's supposed to go, right?What happens when you start trying for a family ... and trying, and trying some more? How far do you go to achieve your dream of having children?So Close is the heart wrenching, exhilarating, devastatingly funny story of Tertia Albertyn's battle with infertility. Tertia wanted a baby so badly she went through nine IVFs. Most people give up after the third.I don't think I am being brave at all. I am just too terrified NOT to try again.In her worst nightmare she could never have imagined that making a baby would take her four years, each treatment bringing her and her husband Marko closer and closer to creating their family.During Tertia's journey everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Until, finally, everything goes just right.Tertia is as hilarious as she is irrepressible, as approachable as she is knowledgeable. If you are struggling with infertility, have triumphed over infertility or have felt empathy with someone who is going through this experience, you will find a friend in Tertia.

Mr. Duck and Mr. Rabbit have many chances to get to know each other and become friends, except for one thing.

On May 19, 1942, a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. Captained by twenty nine-year-old Iron Cross and King's Cross recipient Erich Wurdemann, the submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia with sixty-two souls on board. Most aboard were merchant seamen, but there were also a handful of civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina, and their two children, eight-year-old Sonny and eleven-year-old Lucille. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. When the ship exploded, chaos ensued—and each family member had to find their own path to survival. Including original, unpublished material from Commander Wurdemann’s war diary, the story provides balance and perspective by chronicling the daring mission of the U-boat—and its commander’s decision-making—in the Gulf of Mexico. An inspiring historical narrative, So Close to Home tells the story of the Downs family as they struggle against sharks, hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration in their effort to survive the aftermath of this deadly attack off the American coast.

Key Selling Points In Don't Stand So Close to Me an eighth grader and her friends adjust to life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The book is set in real time during a worldwide historical event and, while it examines the harsh realities of a global pandemic, it ultimately shares a message of coming together and having hope. The book was produced in less than one month, an unprecedented publishing event; it was written and released during the same pandemic it is set in. A portion of the sales will be donated to Lakeside HOPE House in the author's hometown of Guelph, Ontario. HOPE House offers immediate relief and ongoing support to those in need as well as programs and community projects that challenge the stigmas surrounding poverty. With increasing financial insecurity for many due to COVID-19, their work is now more important than ever.

From the No 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Crossfire saga comes the beginning of a twisty tale of obsession and fury, as a trinity of women protect what they covet at any cost. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Dangerous and sultry . . . domestic suspense at its sexiest' SAMANTHA DOWNING 'A gripping pageturner' GLAMOUR UK 'Absolutely cannot wait for the next one in the series. So many twists and turns . . . I was constantly delighted by each chapter' 5* READER REVIEW 'Powerful . . . I'm obsessed! Why can't the rest of the series be available immediately?' 5* READER REVIEW You can't believe all of them . . . But can you trust any of them? ___________ Widower Kane Black has been hollowed by grief. Until he sees a woman with his wife Lily's inimitable beauty on Manhattan's streets. He whisks her up to his towering penthouse, nestling her in dark opulence. Aliyah, Kane's mother, sees a threat. "Lily" has dangerous control over Kane and there can be only one queen on this throne. Amy, Kane's sister-in-law, has been bloodied by betrayal. She's paid too high a price and now intends to claim what she's owed. Three women, linked by buried secrets, circle the man who unquestioningly accepts the return of his beloved long-dead wife. But Kane is happier than he's ever been, and he'll do anything to stay that way . . . ___________ A lushly gothic novel of domestic suspense, So Close is an emotionally intense and addictive story of love, greed and ambition from multimillion-copy international bestseller Sylvia Day. 'You will GOBBLE IT up . . . Take the plunge into the rip current because it is about consume you and leave you gasping till October 2023 for the next instalment' 5***** READER REVIEW 'This instantly had me intrigued. You can't stop reading. That ending!! My goodness, I'm so ready for the next book' 5***** READER REVIEW