The rugged coastline and wild rivers of Del Norte County were once home to the Yurok and Tolowa Indians, who built their dwellings with planks cut from virgin redwood. The Klamath River was an early supply route to the gold mines, but its treacherous waters were soon abandoned in favor of the ocean port at Crescent City. Although its lighthouse guided many heavily laden ships to safe harbor, famous shipwrecks still lie off Del Norte's rocky coast. Pack mule teams streamed east, bound for mining camps, and ranches in the Smith River and Elk Valleys developed to supply them. River salmon became a major industry, and later the ocean's bounty supported fishermen. Redwood groves fed a thriving timber industry for over a century. Never lacking in drama, Del Norte's history includes a U.S. oil tanker sunk by a Japanese submarine in 1941 and, in 1964, a tsunami that swept through Crescent City, destroying almost all of its downtown.

This sweet story, intended for lower elementary grades, is intended to provide a window for discussing earthquakes, tsunamis, marine debris, preparedness and cultural awareness in the classroom and within families. On April 7, 2013, a little over two years after the magnitude 9 Tohoku-oki Japan earthquake triggered a massive tsunami off the coast of northeastern Japan, a lone boat washed up on the shores of Crescent City, California. The confirmation of the boat as belonging to a high school in Rikuzentakata was first step in an amazing story that has linked two tsunami-vulnerable communities on opposite sides of the Pacific and initiated friendships between high school students in Rikuzentakata.

Sweeten Any Occasion with Bold, Unforgettable Desserts From Brown Butter Ghee Shortbread Cookies to Pomegranate Curd Brownies, these decadently spiced, versatile recipes are a joy to make and share. Drawing inspiration from her Indian-American upbringing and experience on MasterChef, Hetal Vasavada infuses every creation with the flavors of her heritage. The results are remarkable treats like Mango Lassi French Macarons and Ginger–Chai Chocolate Pot de Crème. Whip up a batch of small sweets (mithai) like Sesame Seed Brittle and Bourbon Biscuits, or impress guests with a fantastic breakfast like Banana Custard Brioche Donuts. The Gulab Jamun Cake, inspired by the quintessential Indian dough-balls soaked in spiced syrup, is the perfect showstopper for any gathering. Simple techniques and smart shortcuts make it easy to create familiar flavors or experiment with new ones. With delectable ingredients like ginger, cardamom, saffron, fennel and rose, every bite is worth celebrating.

With her beloved younger siblings settled and happy, Erin Foley has empty-nest syndrome. At age thirty-five. So she's hitting the pause button on her life and holing up in a secluded (but totally upgraded—she's not into roughing it) cabin near Virgin River. Erin is planning on getting to know herself…not the shaggy-haired mountain man she meets. In fact, beneath his faded fatigues and bushy beard, Aiden Riordan is a doctor, recharging for a summer after leaving the navy. He's intrigued by the pretty, slightly snooty refugee from the rat race—her meditating and journaling are definitely keeping him at arm's length. He'd love to get closer…if his scruffy exterior and crazy ex-wife don't hold him back. But maybe it's something in the water—unlikely romances seem to take root in Virgin River…helped along by some well-intentioned meddling, of course. Look for What We Find by Robyn Carr, a powerful story of healing, new beginnings and one woman's journey to finding the happiness she's long been missing. Order your copy today!