I'm forty now. I'm not sure I'm recovered. I still feel like an outsider sometimes, looking in on the world from a strange vantage point. Like I went to an alien planet and have come back, but no one understands what I saw. I suppose I will always be like that.' Growing up in a working-class family in the 1960s and '70s, with her narcissistic and neglectful mother, Lizette, and her stepfather, Piet, a construction worker who spends much of his time away from home, Terry learns early on that childhood, at least for her, is a matter of survival. Those who are meant to protect and care for her increasingly exploit her, and as she watches her mother drag herself to and from her job at Harry's Dry Cleaner's each day, then sink into alcoholism and eventually relinquish all parental responsibility, it is left to Terry to become the caregiver and protector of her four younger siblings. The only affection she is shown comes from the family's nanny Sophie, with whom she forms a strong bond, and from Piet who, while proving to be the more attentive parent, nevertheless exacts a high price for his favours. At twelve years old, Terry is unwittingly drawn into the student unrest of June 1976 when Sophie's son Rex disappears in the political tumult of the time and she tries to help her find out what has happened to him. At the same time she finds herself on a treacherous and terrifying journey of her own that she is powerless to control, and as she watches her family disintegrate around her, she has to dig deep to find the strength to cope. Terry's intelligence, resilience and fortitude make her the irresistible, heartbreaking heroine of Jelly Dog Days. Despite everything that the universe throws at her, she retains a passion for life and an innate optimism that are truly remarkable. Erica Emdon's debut novel is a story of trust and betrayal but, more importantly, it is about survival and, to some extent, redemption.

Do you believe in spirits? A series of strange happenings force Valley View guesthouse manager - and sceptic - Bella Jordan to question her beliefs in the new instalment of New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub's heart-warming cozy mystery series set in Lily Dale, New York's Spiritualist home. After attending a family wedding in Chicago, young widow Bella Jordan is returning to the guesthouse she runs in Lily Dale - the quirky upstate New York lakeside village famous for its spiritual mediums - when she catches a glimpse of the impossible at the airport: her late husband Sam. A former science teacher, Bella is grounded in facts and logic. She doesn't believe in ghosts. But even when she's back home with the competing distractions of her quirky guests, small son Max, resident pet cats and a very unexpected litter of puppies, Bella can't find a good explanation for what she's seen. The situation gets even stranger when her psychic friend Odelia tells her that she made contact with Sam's spirit and he shared a significant name: Kevin . . . Bacon! Bella doesn't know what to think, but when she glimpses Sam again and things start to vanish around her, she knows she has to get to the bottom of the strange happenings - even if that means letting go for good . . . Readers of the Crystal Cave series by Susan Wittig Albert, the Harper Connelly mysteries by Charlaine Harris and the Bailey Ruth ghost novels by Carolyn Hart will love this charming, characterful cozy mystery series, which invites readers to draw their own conclusions on whether ghosts are real.

After rescuing Ze, a stray white German Shepherd, during a storm, Jessica Sheldon and Ze are hit by lightning and the unbelievable happens--they switch bodies. OWatson's rendering of the inner life of a dog is pitch perfect.O--Susan Wilson, "New York Times"-bestselling author of "One Good Dog." Original.

It is the mid-1960s and Randy Harrison is a gangly fifteen-year-old who seeks thrills amid the pages of a steamy novel and while hanging out with his friends. Unfortunately, his thrill-seeking behavior comes with consequences. After he is sent to his Aunt Carrie's farm for two weeks as part of his punishment for a recent indiscretion, Randy prepares to embrace the seemingly idyllic country life. But as he stands at a crossroads between boyhood and manhood, Randy must first confront the challenges that await him before he can continue any further on his path to maturity. As Randy is forced to stand up to bullies, overcome sadness, wrestle with his feelings for the girl of his dreams, and deal with her rival and a man he believes is the guardian of the area, he soon discovers the value of life in a way he never imagined. Dog Days of Summer is the tale of a teenager's summer of angst as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and realizes the power of his survival instincts.

Illustrates a psychological training system for dogs based on positive reinforcement and shows, through the story of Jellybean, how a good dog can become schizophrenic from the use of traditional training methods.

Birdie Gibbs lives on the seventh floor of an East End high-rise. She hates it, and she hates the hooligans. And she gets pretty bored. Ok, she's old, but that doesn't mean she's satisfied with a pair of slippers and a good book. Her best friend constantly taunts her with threats of an old people's home. But Birdie's resolute - she's not going anywhere near one of those places. She keeps herself busy, it's better to wear out than rust out. And when ex-husband Jimmy Dwyer turns up out of the blue with a greyhound that needs a home, Birdie thinks things might be on the up. But he vanishes just as quickly, leaving behind him some memories of the past that Birdie would rather forget. Laugh-out-loud funny - this is classic Laurie Graham.