"Jackson is always making new contraptions, but his contraptions don't always work. Do you think Jackson's contraptions will work this time?"--Page 4 of cover

Tales from the Heartland On the banks of the Mississippi in an Iowa city, the Jackson Meatpacking Company and its two thousand employees are in trouble. Cutthroat competition has driven the company to the brink of bankruptcy. Jackson's mayor, a packinghouse worker himself, proposes an employee buyout. However, the idea is quickly stolen from him by the company's CEO, who will do anything to save the packinghouse, even if it means putting his employees' life savings at risk. Soon the company board, the union and even rank-and-file employees are fighting to make the plan their own. The whole town is drawn into the battle over company survival, as the people of Jackson face a seemingly impossible choice. Author tour: Upper Midwest, Berkeley, CA

"Jackson is always making new contraptions, but his contraptions don't always work. Do you think Jackson's contraptions will work this time?"--Page 4 of cover.

In lively, down-to-earth narrative, "60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl reveals how she has kept her focus--and her sense of humor--in the competitive, often sexist world of political reporting. 16-page photo insert.

How can he protect his family when he no longer knows what family is? Cutter Jackson’s perfect world is crumbling. A new-found half-brother, a father short on answers, and a woman who challenges his every word will do that to a man. He’s losing his authority, his morality and his restraint with every breath. And there’s still Christmas and New Year to navigate. Street-savvy Mia Blake isn’t looking for a place in the family Cutter loves so much. As for the lust that sparks between them, Mia’s more than happy to fan those flames and drive them both a little nuts. She can handle it. She can handle him right up until the moment Cutter decides he wants more than a holiday fling… Previously titled A Bad Boy for Christmas The Jackson Brothers Book 1: The Courage of Eli Jackson Book 2: The Heart of Caleb Jackson Book 3: The Downfall of Cutter Jackson

The book features : long vowels a, o, and e. Phnograms -aw and -all and inflectional ending -ed. High frequency and story words.