Authors, moms, and fitness enthusiasts Thom and Kocanda work to balance motherhood and fitness. It was from their conversations that the idea for "Hot (Sweaty) Mamas" was born. Moms who find it difficult to start or stick with an exercise program will learn how to reframe their thinking.

Dating is a humorous struggle for a recently divorced man who has no clue what women want.

Every mother runner has a tale to tell. A story about how she realized, fifteen years after being told that she’s best being a bookworm, that there is an athlete inside her. Or the one about how she, fifty pounds overweight and depressed, finally found the courage—and time—to lace up her running shoes. Or maybe it’s about setting a seemingly impossible goal—going under two hours in the half-marathon—and then methodically running that goal down and tearing up across the finish line. Or it might be an account of friendship: she was new to town, was having a hard time making friends, was asked to join a group run, and now she's got four BRFs (best running friends) who are her allies, her cheerleaders, her reality checks. Maybe it's just a simple story of the beauty of starting the day off with an endorphin rush. Or, sadly, it could be about how, through the guidance of a thoughtful running friend, she found the space and rhythm to process being raped—and regained her strength and sense of self through every footstep. In Mother Runners, elite runners Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea share not only their own stories of personal triumph on the pavement but also the inspiring stories of many members of the vibrant mother runner community they've built on their popular site, Run Like a Mother. While the common theme is running, the variations that happen through the miles are as endless as the miles themselves: losing weight, gaining confidence, finding yourself, connecting with friends, expecting more, setting goals, dealing with disappointment, figuring out how to train efficiently, clearing your head, reconnecting with your memories, building a better you. Whether you've run more marathons than you can remember, or you're just getting started, you'll find the inspiration you need to get out there, keep pushing, and run like a mother.

The real talk you want about pregnancy, birth, body image, and the newborn days from Meghan Trainor, the chart-topping singer-songwriter behind "All About That Bass" and "Dear Future Husband," and, more importantly, Riley's mom. Meghan Trainor has wanted to be a mom since before she even knew how babies were made. From the moment she discovered she was pregnant with her first child--her son, Riley--she was fascinated by the entire experience. Yes, pregnancy and motherhood are miracles--but even a miracle can freak you out sometimes. Everyone has an opinion on what an expectant mother should feel, think, or do during her pregnancy, and it's hard not to feel overwhelmed with app notifications, well-meaning questions, and unsolicited advice that comes from friends, family, and perfect strangers. Dear Future Mama is a heartfelt and humorous guide for expectant mamas inspired by Meghan's own journey into motherhood and expert insights from Meghan's own personal trainer, registered dietitian, husband, and ob-gyn. No shame, no judgment--just straight talk (and laughs) from a bestie who's been there, including a TMI guide to the good, bad, and WTF of conception, pregnancy, and childbirth advice about everything from ovulation apps to random hair growth Meghan's personal stories about body image, mental health, and navigating her career path as a new mother permission to find the right path for you--ignoring the judgment of others and freeing yourself from the shifting standards of motherhood Dear Future Mama offers future mamas a place to relax, laugh out loud, and get the pep talk they need to know that they are absolutely not alone.

MUST HATE DOGS Do you hate dogs? Only want to talk about yourself? Is having a sense of humor something you’ve never been accused of? Think eating for pleasure is a complete waste of time? Agree that tipping is for suckers? Then you’re the date for me. Dixon Beckett is the kind of guy who loves his mama, treats women right, and never ever wants to fall in love again. That’s why he’ll do anything to win a bet to be the last single man standing by Christmas. He’s got a plan, too. Create the most no-good, horrible, very bad dating profile in existence. Only someone actually responds to his ad... The rules say he has to go on six dates with the first (or in his case, only) person who answers—even if that person is Fiona Hartigan: Hater of dogs, non-lover of any delicious food, and zero sense of humor. But something feels off about this pariah. In fact, Dixon is almost positive Fiona is just pretending to be awful. Pretending to be the most horrible date in existence. And she’s most definitely pretending to not be as interested in him as he is in her. The more Dixon Beckett starts to unravel the mystery of why Fiona answered his ad in the first place, the more he starts considering the most vile, awful, terrible idea ever...falling in love. Each book in the Last Man Standing series is STANDALONE: * Mama's Boy * Neanderthal * Mansplainer

The hardest thing about running isn't the running. It's getting yourself out the front door. This is particularly true for anyone who is overweight, who doesn't "look" like a runner, but more like someone who ran out of gas on the way to pick up a pizza. Someone who looks like she needs a ride home. Jennifer Graham's been there. She's still there, actually. She started running to lose weight, and she did lose a little, but not enough to ever fit in the size 12 silk dress that still hangs in her closet, apparently doomed to be forever unworn. But no matter. Along the way, Graham learned that running -- not weight loss -- is the fast track to joy. It's also the best way to motor over the speed bumps of life, whether they be excessive procreation, a difficult divorce, or runaway donkeys headed for the school bus. Graham, a columnist for The Boston Globe, writes candidly about the indignities of being a plus-sized runner in a sport dominated by long, lean "shirtless wonders." But she believes that everyone who can run should run (and if they can't, they should walk as long and as fast as they can.) How? It's this simple: Put on your most comfortable clothes, and your most comfortable shoes, and walk somewhere, even if it's just to the mailbox. Then run back to where you started, slowly. The next day, do it again, only go a little bit farther. And farther yet, the next day. Keep it up, listening carefully to your body about when it needs to work and when it should rest. One day, you'll run a 5K, or a marathon, or at least will be able to retrieve your mail with lightning speed. But first, buy a copy of this book, and let Jennifer Graham entertain you every step of the way. ------- Praise for Honey, Do You Need a Ride?" "Jennifer writes like an old friend speaks, in a voice you know and love. Her descriptions of running heavy, whether with added weight or added burdens, make her experience universal to runners and non-runners alike. Her overcoming spirit makes you want to cheer for her, run with her, or eat a pint of ice cream with her! Ultimately, it's not the size of the body but the size of the heart that counts. And this runner's heart is huge." --Kristin Armstrong, mother of three, Contributing Editor for Runner's World,Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run "Here's to the mid-pack runners, the back-of-the-pack shufflers, the start-slowly-and-taper-off champions. Just remember: there's a lot more of us than there are of them (those tall skinny Shirtless Wonders). And Jennifer Graham tells our story beautifully, with unflinching honesty and laugh-out-loud humor." --John "the Penguin" Bingham, author of The Courage to Start, No Need for Speed, and An Accidental Athlete "Jennifer Graham might be surprised when the sinewy running tribe she longs to conform to becomes readers of her book, because you don't have to be a 'fat runner' to enjoy this moving memoir. If you've ever fallen in love with running; if running is a constant companion; if running has been a lifeline through bad times, then you'll identify with Graham's story. Okay, maybe not the donkeys or the paranormal coaching, but when you're done reading you'll wish you could join Graham on a run, just so you can hear more." --Kara Douglass Thom, author of Becoming an Ironman and Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom "Jennifer Graham is the hilarious, pee-your-pants running partner you wish you had. She'll make you want to move to Boston just to pound out a few miles alongside her and slam down a ginormous hot-fudge sundae with her post-run. If you love running, laughing, eating, and reading in equal measure, you'll love this book." --Eileen Button, author of The Waiting Place: Learning to Appreciate Life's Little Delays

Most women who are dieting do not realize that PMS and weight gain are connected—and that to really lose weight, increase energy, and feel better they need to consider their monthly cycle. Now The 28 Days Lighter Diet teaches women how to embrace their monthly cycle and follow its guidance so that they know when to push themselves, when to treat themselves to some well-earned rest, and how to keep their hormones in balance. It explains what to do during every week of the month to shed excess weight, ease PMS, and do it by working with your body instead of beating it into submission. The female body changes from week to week, and traditional diet and workout programs never acknowledge this phenomenon. This easy-to-follow 28-day plan is an innovative combination of modern research and ancient traditions. It outlines a core program of dietary suggestions, fitness guidelines, specific exercises, and lifestyle recommendations for each of the phases of the menstrual cycle and how to take care of yourself throughout the month.