Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
The Dragon Thief's Heart
by Wendy Anderson
A runaway boy. A stolen dragon egg. A mother who will burn kingdoms to get it back.
When Kieran sneaks into the cave of the last living dragon in the land, he expects to find treasure. Instead, he unknowingly steals a dragon’s egg that will change his destiny forever. From the moment it hatches, the young dragon becomes his closest friend and fiercest secret. How could they know the fate of dragon kind rests on their forbidden bond.
As they grow, Kieran dreams of glory and becoming a warrior, while his dragon, Una, dreams of freedom, love, and a life beyond the battlefield.
Their bond awakens an ancient fury. The dragon mother, wielding forgotten magic and a mother's wrath, will stop at nothing to reclaim what was taken.
With war coming, the fate of dragon kind hangs in balance. One boy, one dragon girl, and a vengeful mother are locked in a struggle where love and loyalty collide…only fire can decide who survives.
Fans of Eragon, 4th Wing, and epic fantasy romances will be swept away by The Dragon Thief’s Heart, a tale of friendship, destiny, and forbidden love.
Slickrock
by Andrew Baldwin
Murder at ancient ruins, desperate kidnappers, and a $5 million-dollar ransom make Slickrock Canyon a deadly place for a finance student, an intrepid deputy, and a moonshining hermit.
Malia is kidnapped and held in an old trailer in a remote canyon. When a gin-brewing recluse named Relic rescues her, an investigating deputy teams up with a hunter who is not who he claims to be… Malia and Relic must survive a deadly shoot-out, evade their pursuers, and warn the deputy before it’s too late. But someone in town is helping the bad guys. And a trip-up in their plan only makes them more determined and lethal...
Ghost Writer: A Supernatural Suspense Mystery
by Arjay Lewis
A tight deadline. A diabolical disappearance…
Is his tortured mind playing dirty tricks, or is he about to write himself into an early grave?
Joe Riley is desperate. Devastated by his recent divorce, the successful thriller author retreats to a remote cabin he’s inherited, hoping the quiet setting will cure his crippling writer’s block. And though he’s briefly disturbed by strange noises in the night, the frustrated storyteller blames alcohol-induced memory loss when he discovers a stack of pages he can’t remember typing.
Searching for answers to his newfound inspiration, Joe learns of a long-vanished successful novelist… and is stunned to spot her specter working away at his desk. And as the stubborn forty-year-old researches his family’s connections to her tragic tale, he becomes aware of a sinister and brutal truth… even as he yields to her unearthly seduction.
Will refusing to confront his own demons see him penning his next masterpiece from six feet under?
Ghost Writer is a dark and moody paranormal mystery. If you like well-developed characters, supernatural chills, and spinetingling tension, then you’ll love Arjay Lewis’s bending of the boundaries between life and death.
Read Ghost Writer to turn pages beyond the veil today!
GENRE WINS
(HONORABLE MENTIONS)
BooksShelf
FICTION WINNERS
10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure
by Teri M Brown
Embark on an extraordinary journey across the United States on a tandem bicycle with "10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure." This heartwarming and insightful book explores the highs and lows of adventure cycling, unforgettable moments, and self-discovery after divorce as author Teri M Brown navigates winding roads and unexpected detours.
Filled with powerful, deeply personal anecdotes, the unexpected challenges of the open road, and cherished connections with those she met while riding 10.4 miles per hour, this book is not just a travel memoir—it's a personal story of healing through adventure, overcoming personal challenges, and personal growth, complete with a guided journaling experience designed to help you reclaim your own power and take on life’s challenges with renewed vigor.
Get ready to laugh, cry, and be inspired as you pedal through life's twists and turns with resilience, camaraderie, wisdom, and a healthy dose of humor that will inspire you to create your own rules for a truly adventurous life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Misophonia
by Shaylynn Hayes-Raymond
As a clinician, and sufferer of misophonia herself, Shaylynn Hayes-Raymond sought a way to cope with misophonia using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that omitted harmful practices like Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) and focuses on a supportive and compassionate basis for coping with misophonia.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Misophonia is an essential guide for clinicians, individuals, and families seeking a structured, empathetic, and effective approach to managing misophonia. Over 50 worksheets and exercises are included to help both clinicians and sufferers of misophonia.
If you or your clients live with misophonia, you know the frustration of having your life dictated by specific, repetitive sounds like chewing, breathing, or tapping. The rage, anxiety, and disgust are intense, and finding practical, reliable help can feel impossible.
Misophonia advocate and licensed counselor Shaylynn Hayes-Raymond, MA, LCT-C, has developed the CBT-MISO method to fill the critical gap in misophonia resources. This book offers an accessible, structured, 10-week plan that combines established behavioral tools with a deep, personal understanding of misophonia’s unique sensory profile.
15 Ways Pets Teach Us Kindness: More Nuggets of Hope
by Kim Lengling
What if your greatest teacher of kindness was sleeping at your feet?
In this uplifting short read, mini-eBook, author Kim Lengling, a veteran, pet lover, and creator of Nuggets of Hope, shares 15 beautiful reflections on how pets gently remind us to slow down, forgive more, love deeper, and be kind to ourselves and those around us.
From tail wags to purring snuggles, our pets offer unconditional love, patience, and a powerful presence that can shift even the hardest days. Each short chapter is paired with a simple kindness prompt to help you carry their lessons into your own life, one paw print at a time.
Whether you're a lifelong animal lover or simply seeking a little hope and inspiration, this cozy companion will leave you smiling, reflecting, and maybe reaching for your furry friend.
GENRE WINS
(HONORABLE MENTIONS)
BooksShelf
NONFICTION WINNERS
Shanleya's Quest: A Botany Adventure for Kids Ages 9-99
by Thomas Elpel
In a mythical world where time is a liquid that falls as rain upon the land, young Shanleya paddles her canoe out to the tree islands to learn the plant traditions of her people. Each island is home to a separate family of plants and an unforgettable Guardian with lessons to teach about the identification and uses of those plants.
Shanleya's Quest is a truly unique educational book that presents botanical concepts and plant identification skills in an easy and fun metaphorical format for children as well as for adults who are young at heart.
The book begins with a creation myth that parallels evolutionary concepts, where life begins as bubbles in a puddle of soup under the radiance of Father Sun and the gentle glow of Mother Moon. The evolutionary tree of life becomes a literal part of the story, buried up to its branch-tips (the "islands") in an ocean of Time that just keeps getting deeper and deeper. This is the world that Shanleya explores by canoe, learning the essential characteristics of closely related plants on each island she visits.
Readers young and old can join Shanleya's Quest, learning the patterns to correctly identify more than 45,000 species of plants to their proper families. The Quest will change the way you see the world, enabling you to experience nature in a new and magical way that you probably never imagined possible.
Written by outdoor educator Thomas J. Elpel, author of Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification. Wonderfully illustrated by Gloria Brown, who blended botanical accuracy with fantasy to produce artwork that both captivates and educates!
Note: The Shanleya's Quest Patterns in Plants Card Game is sold separately by the publisher.
Hannah's Call To Care: How One Girl Discovered the Power of Protecting Wildlife
by Claudia Clark
Through a series of scenarios, 12-year-old Hannah educates children and adults about the most significant threats facing Australia's native animals and the simple things people can do to help protect them from many of these dangers.
The Magical Red Kimono
by Jan Morrill
One hot summer day in Arkansas, Sachi and Jubie are bored and need an adventure.
Everything changes when Sachi comes up with a brilliant idea. She'll teach Jubie a Japanese dance! She hurries through the gate of Rohwer Relocation Camp to get her red kimono for Jubie to wear.
When she returns, Sachi teaches Jubie about the Japanese festival known as Obon and shows her how to do the dance called Tankō Bushi. Jubie twirls and dances as the red kimono floats and swirls around her.
Not only do Sachi and Jubie find adventure, but they also discover that magic happens when you least expect it!
GENRE WINS
(HONORABLE MENTIONS)
BooksShelf
CHILDREN'S BOOKS WINNERS
Was It a Dream?:
Navigating Life's Journey Through Poetry
by Larada Horner-Miller
Looking for connection during life’s struggles? Discover a poetic path through pain and loss to the other side of hope and perseverance.
Delving deep into years of lived experience, the drive for understanding defines the personal journey. With reflections on times of real vulnerability and authentic relatability, this moving collection covers tragedy, fun, travel, a spirit coyote, the love of nature, and living. And through whimsical moments and unlimited dreaming, shared lessons can turn any challenge into triumph.
Award-winning author and poet Larada Horner-Miller bravely shares the loss of her father, the demise of marriage, and the heartbreak of being childless, while marveling over wonders around the world. And by giving thought-provoking voice to beautiful and heartfelt yearning, readers will uncover their own gift of celebration.
Was It A Dream? is an engaging and uplifting book of poetry, and the first installment in the Navigating Life's Journey Through Poetry series. If you like powerful epiphanies, exploring women’s issues, and rich nostalgia, then you’ll love Larada Horner-Miller’s contemplative compilation.
Buy Was It A Dream? to look back in time today!