Julie Sandford wants a life-sized doll . an Easy-Bake Oven . a grandmother to play paper dolls with her . a best friend to guard her secret dreams . a yellow seersucker dress . a full box of new crayons. What Julie gets is a self-absorbed mother. An alcoholic father. A confused grandmother. Harsh teachers. The loneliness of countless geographical moves. The betrayal of trusted men. Through the love of Mama T, Grandma Emma and Gloria Gustafson, Julie finds women who cushion her emotional falls. As they reflect the goodness of God, Julie is drawn into a search for a heavenly Father-and along the way encounters shocking revelation about her earthly dad. Anne Weihsmann lives in the Midwest as a pastor's wife and mother of four children. She is passionate about her family, her writing, and her faith in a 'second-chance God.' Anne has had articles published in The Covenant Companion and InSpirit magazines

"College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easy-going charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he'll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he's worth a second chance. After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She's not a charity case, and she's not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He'll have to work for it. This time around, she'll be the one in the driver's seat... and she plans on driving him wild."--Back cover.

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice “At the epicenter of literary New York, Menaker is an irreverent guide to the publishing world’s inner workings . . . His own journey, compelled by his self-knowledge and sense of humor, elevates this memoir into more than witty chatter.” — Chicago Tribune “Impossible to resist.” — Jennifer Egan, author of A Visit from the Goon Squad In these pages Daniel Menaker brings us a “ruefully funny insider’s tour of the publishing world” (Vogue.com). Haunted by a self-doubt sharpened by his role in his brother’s unexpected death, he offers wry, hilarious observations on publishing, child-rearing, parent-losing, and the writing life. But as time passes, we witness a moving, thoughtful meditation on years well lived, well read, and well spent. Full of mistakes, perhaps. But full of effort, full of accomplishment, full of life. “Tender, smart and witty, this book is truly unputdownable.” — Real Simple “Energetic and exhilarating . . . [Menaker’s] clever, fast-paced prose makes you stop and think and wonder.” — New York Times Book Review “At once jaunty and erudite . . . The writing simply shines.” — San Francisco Chronicle