Newbery Medalist Richard Peck tells a story of small-town life, gay marriage, and everyday heroes in this novel for fans of Gary Schmidt and Jack Gantos. Archer Magill has spent a lively five years of grade school with one eye out in search of grown-up role models. Three of the best are his grandpa, the great architect; his dad, the great vintage car customizer,; and his uncle Paul, who is just plain great. These are the three he wants to be. Along the way he finds a fourth—Mr. McLeod, a teacher. In fact, the first male teacher in the history of the school. But now here comes middle school and puberty. Change. Archer wonders how much change has to happen before his voice does. He doesn't see too far ahead, so every day or so a startling revelation breaks over him. Then a really big one when he's the best man at the wedding of two of his role models. But that gets ahead of the story. In pages that ripple with laughter, there's a teardrop here and there. And more than a few insights about the bewildering world of adults, made by a boy on his way to being the best man he can be.

Brooke Nichols spent her entire childhood bouncing through states, school districts and more than a few of her parents' ill-conceived "adventures." Now, she's finally found some stability. Engaged to a gorgeous, gainfully employed businessman—who always calls when he says he will—Brooke is eager to settle down once and for all. No alarms, no surprises. Certainly, she would never consider a relationship with someone like her fiancé's best friend, firefighter Jake McBride. With his frequent footloose jaunts and a career that involves leaping into dangerous situations, Jake is everything Brooke's fiancé is not: raw, spontaneous and passionate. But passion isn't everything…is it? As Jake keeps pushing Brooke's boundaries, and her buttons, the girl who hates surprises might just end up surprising everyone, especially herself.

In this romance series finale, a security specialist hopes repair his reputation with a scandalized beauty in time for his friend’s Christmas wedding. When the identity of a notorious blackmailer was revealed, the culprit’s connection to Gabe Walsh left him guilty by association. Now Gabe is trying to rebuild his reputation with the people of Royal, Texas—and especially with Chelsea Hunt. Chelsea blames Gabe for the compromising photos of her that everyone is talking about. And that makes things especially awkward as they try to co-plan their best friends’ Christmas wedding. Gabe has many opportunities to show the sexy cowgirl just what a good guy he really is. And apparently he’s pretty convincing, because she soon winds up in his bed! But is this just a holiday fling, or the real thing?

This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time. It made me laugh, cry, and the way love won out in the end was wonderful. -- Beverly Willeford, Bev's Books (Highlands, TX) Joe Roark's three daughters have just learned that the only way they will inherit their father's ranch is to drive a herd of 1,200 longhorns to Dodge City, Kansas and sell them there. If they fail, his wife Lola inherits everything. Terrified, but knowing they will be penniless without their inheritance, the girls decide to drive the cattle. What follows is an unparalleled adventure filled with the raw wildness of nature, the force of sheer determination, and an unexpected love that will change one sister's life...

Oh, what a night! Some guys look like trouble from the start. From where Cady Egerton is sitting, Patton Ryan is just the right kind of trouble. She doesn't want a gentleman--she wants him. A man meant for hot, passionate sex. Yep, Patton is just the guy to give her one heck of a night to remember... Cady did not expect her delectable one-night hookup to show up at her best friend's engagement party--or that he'd be the best man. Now all they have in common is a serious case of lust and a desire to break up their friends' whirlwind wedding. But every minute they don't spend plotting together is bound to be nothing but pure, naked trouble.