Animals bring out the goodness, humanity and optimism in people and speak directly to our souls. This joyous, inspiring and entertaining Chicken Soup collection relates the unique bonds between animals and the people whose lives they've changed. Such as the dolphins who helped a paralyzed woman heal when doctors offered little hope; the dog who brought life into a failing marriage; the kitten who helped a mother mourn; and the flying squirrel who taught a man the power of laughter. Packed with celebrity pet-lore, Chicken Soup for the Soul relates the unconditional love, loyalty, courage and companionship that only animals possess. Just like our furry, feathered and four-legged friends, this enchanting book will bring a smile to any pet lover's face ... and it's housebroken!

Everyone can remember a special teacher in his or her life: someone who inspired them to achieve greatness, offered encouragement through difficult times, or simply made learning fun and exciting. The magic of Chicken Soup for the Soul takes an all-new direction in this enchanting collection of stories and accompanying photos that honor and celebrate the teachers and mentors in our lives. Through the artistry of acclaimed photographer Sharon J. Wohlmuth, readers are offered a glimpse into the hearts and minds of those who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in the lives of children. These soul-stirring pictures illuminate the teacher-student relationship in a whole new light and make readers feel a part of every moment in these touching stories.The perfect gift for graduation, this delightful book will earn high marks with readers.

This is the book everyone has been waiting for—an inspiring celebration of the joy, challenges, and triumphs of being African American. Combine Ilyana Vanzant and Terry McMillan, then include a dash of E. Lynn Harris, and you’ve got Chicken Soup for the African American Soul. This book captures the spirit of the community through inspiring storytelling that understands both the struggles and joys of being African American. From Jim Crow to the Civil Rights movement to today’s business leaders and gangsta culture, this book is a primer on black history. And like all Chicken Soup books, it’s a moving tribute to the small things—a moment of insight, a mentor, a lover, the loss of innocence—that make life worth living. This great volume is focused on representing all facets of African American life—man and woman; young and old; rural, suburban, and urban; rich and poor; race conscious and mostly color-blind.

Whether you’re a veteran grandma or a Nana-to-be, this collection of stories will warm your heart and make you laugh about the universal experiences of being a grandmother: the phone call that announces your baby will become a mom herself; the first time you hold the most beautiful grandson or granddaughter in the world; and the day you’re on babysitting duty and realize that major issues are minor infractions best solved with love instead of lectures. This book celebrates the memories we make and the times we cherish with grandmothers: the women who can both spoil and be stern; who provide unconditional love and invaluable wisdom; and who can share sage advice while sharing an ice cream.  Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul is the perfect thank you to grandmothers everywhere—those special women who enrich our lives with joy and love.

All of us, at one time or another, find ourselves inexplicably drawn to the sea. For some, it's a place for reflection or romance. For others, it's the thrill of watching surf crash against a sandy white beach or studying the kaleidoscope of life among a tropical coral reef. This ability of the ocean to change our lives, to inspire us and to fascinate us is what led us to create "Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul," a collection of stories from around the world that celebrate the magic of our ocean planet. The sea, from the beginning of time, has inspired great art and amazing stories. Our relationship with the ocean lies deep within our consciousness and, in fact, is in each of us. "Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul" has captured some of these great stories to warm your heart and touch your soul. This book has amazing stories of swimming eye to eye with great whales, sharks and manatees, as well as legends of dolphins saving man. So get ready to dive in with Jack, Mark and Wyland, the world's most acclaimed marine-life artist, as they guide you on a journey of discovery and stories that will lift your spirit and awaken your senses like the healing sea itself. At last, a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book for ocean lovers like you!

Having survived three months in a life raft, Hans Larsson returns to Cape Verde intending to dive on the wreck of his yacht Future seeking answers, but in a frightening turn of events, the former Navy SEAL uncovers the island’s dark secret, the Trade. In his role as special operative, Hans employs the Concern’s covert global reach and sophisticated technology to expose a vile chain leading all the way to Washington.

Following the death of his wife and son, Hans Larsson buys a yacht named Future, intending to sail across the Atlantic with his young daughter Jessica. En route they meet Penny, a seasoned English skipper, who joins them as crew, and the larger-than-life Marcel, a Dutch art dealer hiding a secret, along with a stash of drugs on his vintage boat. Battling storms, sharks and pirates, Hans and Jessica experience the adventure of a lifetime, until fate intervenes to leave them fighting for survival on an ocean less perilous than the mind . . .

. A work of both scholarship and imagination. The Lost Choice is a legend of personal discovery—a reminder of the opportunities we each are given. When a young boy finds a mysterious object in the creek near his home, it starts a series of events that could change the world—again. Many search for the ancient relic's secret, but few find its truer purpose. What choices will each make—or lose?

David Ponder is back—and this time, the fate of mankind may be in his hands. This is humanity’s last chance. Centuries of greed, pride, and hate have sent mankind hurtling toward disaster, and far from its original purpose. There is only one solution that can reset the compass and right the ship—and that answer is only two words. With time running out, it is up to David Ponder and a cast of history’s best and brightest minds to uncover this solution before it is too late. The catch? They are allowed only five tries to solve the ominous challenge. Readers first encountered David Ponder in the New York Times bestseller The Traveler’s Gift. Now, in The Final Summit, Andrews combines a riveting narrative with astounding history in order to show us the one thing we must do when we don’t know what to do. “Every generation or so, God produces a person who can communicate like no one else. His words are like cool water to a thirsty civilization. Andy Andrews is one of the best I have ever seen.” —Zig Ziglar, America’s #1 Motivator and Best-Selling author “Is it possible to mix C. S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock, and Tony Robbins? The Final Summit is a unique and powerful blend of mystery and suspense and principles and emotional fire. Wow! Bring your highlighter to this party. You’ll want to remember every word!” —Hal Sutton, PGA Champion

In the classic storytelling style of The Noticer and The Traveler's Gift, New York Times best-selling author Andy Andrews now delivers an adventure set sharply against the warm waters and white sands of the Gulf of Mexico in WWII America. Saddened and unable to abandon her resentment toward the Nazi war machine that took her husband's life, the young and attractive Helen Mason is living a bitter, lonely existence. Betrayed and left for dead, German U-boat officer Lt. Josef Landermann washes ashore in a sleepy town along the northern gulf coast, looking to Helen for survival. The Heart Mender is a story of life, loss, and reconciliation, reminding us of the power of forgiveness and the universal healing experience of letting go.

Coming Soon the Continuation of David Ponder’s Story in The Traveler’s Summit What makes the difference between failure and success? A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller, The Traveler’s Gift offered a modern-day parable of one man’s choices. Only a few months ago, David Ponder was a successful executive. Now he’s a desperate man. In times of great uncertainty, we need divine wisdom. Many of the greatest minds in history overcame personal struggles and adversity, and they emerged the stronger for it. What guidance would iconic heroes, such as Abraham Lincoln, King Solomon, and Anne Frank, give us today in our ever-changing climate of world events? Join David Ponder in The Traveler’s Summit on his incredible journey to discover the Seven Decisions for Success that can turn any life around, no matter how hopeless a situation may seem. The Traveler’s Gift became required reading for some of America’s high schools and a “life skills” tool for members of several college sports teams as well as some MLB and NFL franchises. Discover with David Ponder that attitude makes the difference between success and failure.

While digging up a withering wax myrtle tree beside his waterfront home on the Gulf coast, author Andy Andrews unearths a rusted metal container filled with Nazi artifacts and begins an intriguing investigation that unlocks an unspoken past that took place in his backyard . . . literally . . . . . . In the summer of 1942, as the country gears up for a full-scale commitment to WWII, German subs are dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico to sink U.S. vessels carrying goods and fuel for the war. While taking a late-night walk along the coastline, Helen Mason-recently widowed by the realities of war-discovers the near-lifeless body of a German sailor. Enraged at the site of Josef Landermann's uniform, Helen is prepared to leave the lieutenant to die when an unusual phrase, faintly uttered, changes her mind. Set in a period simmering with anger and suspicion, Island of Saints offers the very real chronicle of a small town preparing itself for the worst the world has to offer. As cargo from torpedoed ships begins to wash up on the beach, Josef and Helen must reconcile their pasts in order to create a future. Blending his unique style of historical accuracy with unparalleled storytelling, New York Times best-selling author Andy Andrews offers a tale of war, faith, and forgiveness-illuminating the one principle that frees the human spirit.

Perspective is a powerful thing. Andy Andrews has spent the past five years doing a double take at every white-haired old man he sees, hoping to have just one more conversation with the person to whom he owes his life. Through a chance encounter at a local bookstore, Andy is reunited with the man who changed everything for him — Jones, also known as “The Noticer.” As the story unfolds, Jones uses his unique talent of noticing the little things that make a big difference. And these little things grant the people of Fairhope, Alabama, a life-changing gift — perspective. Along the way families are united and financial opportunities created, leaving us with powerfully simple solutions to the everyday problems we all face. Through the lens of a parenting class at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Jones guides a seemingly random group to ask specific questions inspired by his curious advice: “You can’t believe everything you think.” The questions lead to answers for which people have been searching for centuries: How do we begin to change the culture in which we live? Can we ensure a life of success and value for our children as they become adults? What if what we think is the end . . . is only the beginning? What starts as an account of Andy’s everyday reality unfolds into an intriguing story revealing the extraordinary principles available to anyone looking to create a better life.

Baseball, Boys, and Bad Words reveals the hilarity and magic of Little League baseball. Often called “the funniest tale ever told,” this story will have you laughing until you cry, while warming your soul, reminding you of childhood and a simpler time. In 1970, eleven-year-old Andy Andrews and a group of friends began a Little League season they would never forget. All the usual ingredients were there—well-worn gloves, freshly cut grass, and new uniforms. But the addition of a coach who was “new to the area” is what made this season truly unforgettable for young Andy. Baseball fans and both current and former Little Leaguers will love the funny story, the age-old baseball wisdom quoted from some of the game’s greatest players, and the vintage baseball photography. 

Bradberry is..."Haunting..." --San Francisco Chronicle"Riveting..." --Kirkus"Powerful..." --Vanity Fair"Sometimes you're better off dead. . . ."When Royce Bruyere chose to be cryogenically frozen upon death, he figured coming back to life would be exciting. Neat. Bonus time. The world he awakes to is nothing of the sort.A Chinese invasion has crippled the United States, dividing the country in a decade-long stalemate along the Mississippi. Royce's successful reanimation is unprecedented, making him the Chinese regime's most prized possession--but not for long. Eager to control life and death, the Chinese reanimate other "cryonics," until something goes horribly wrong.Royce travels through a future wrought with violence and despair, only to discover the cure for the disease lies within him. It's a race against time as he flees the Chinese and the bloodthirsty victims of a terrifying epidemic in the hope of saving the country from apocalypse and creating a life worth living.From the book:"I didn't have the slightest inkling I was going to die that day. Though some will argue that I didn't really experience death. The blood stopped coursing through my veins--this much is certain--just as it will some day for you, but there were no pearly gates, no departed loved ones guiding me into the light. While I was away, I experienced nothingness. Perhaps this was intentional, as the great cosmic scorekeeper knew I wasn't finished walking the earth."-page 1

Revenge has never been such fun How would you feel if your best friend at work betrayed you? Was secretly having an affair with an influential colleague? Won a coveted promotion, then teamed you up with a mere junior, leaving you feeling completely demoted? What would you do? For Ivy there's no choice. The only person she has ever trusted, Orianna, has blown it big time. So there's only one way forward: revenge. Ivy's campaign is brilliant, if horribly destructive, and she's determined to get even with the woman who has dared to cross her. But is Ivy really the innocent party? Or is she hiding secrets of her own? From Sarah Rayner, the international bestselling author of One Moment, One Morning, comes Getting Even, an unputdownable story of jealousy, sex, friendship and backstabbing set in the heart of London's Soho adland.

An emotional novel about friendship and loss from the bestselling author of One Moment, One Morning and The Two Week Wait From the author of the bestselling One Moment, One Morning comes another beautiful, bittersweet novel set in Brighton. Three people, each crying out for help . . . There's Karen, worried about her dying father; Abby, whose son has autism and needs constant care; and Michael, a family man on the verge of bankruptcy. As each sinks under the strain, they're brought together at Moreland's Clinic. Here, behind closed doors, they reveal their deepest secrets, confront and console one another and share plenty of laughs. But how will they cope when a new crisis strikes?

When the front door opened and the guy standing there was dressed in nothing but his underwear, Gus somehow knew he would be in for a sizzling summer. Ed’s vacation means a Gold Coast apartment for the summer, but suffering from a social anxiety disorder he sees and speaks to nobody for the duration—other than his cousin Elmo, who’s a leech that he can’t seem to get rid of. For Ed, as a big-time author, summer means working on his next best seller. Summer vacation for Elmo means laying in the sun all day and partying hard all night until a bad batch of pills lands him in hospital. Gus, an American from North Carolina, is a male nurse at The Gold Coast Hospital. When a patient pleads with him to break the news of his hospitalisation to his cousin, Gus agrees. Opening his door to a stranger is almost a first for Ed. Hearing the visitor’s accent, before he so much as catches a glimpse of him, is enough to get Ed excited. When he does see him, he reckons that the guy is hot enough to make his hospital scrubs sizzle. Suddenly for Ed, the summer is looking up, while Gus wonders why the strange guy is answering his door dressed only in his underwear.

At age 50, Maria Leonard Olsen drank her way out of my 25-year marriage. She had, against advice, put all her eggs in the motherhood basket, willfully derailing her successful law career. As teenagers, her precious children did not need her in the hands-on way they previously had. Her husband and she had grown apart because, among other things, they failed to nurture that important relationship. She was depressed and stuck.When she turned 50, she had the distinct feeling that she was on the downward slope of her life. Actuarially speaking, she was. So when she turned 50, her gift to herself was to go on a crusade to make the most of whatever time she had left. She set out to do 50 new things that were significant, at least to her. The list spanned physical challenges, adventure travel, and lifestyle changes. Each taught her something about herself and about how she wanted to lead the next years of her life to come. This work follows the work she did to accomplish those...

“Pemberton’s beautifully told story is a rags to richesjourney—beginning in a place and with a jarring set of experiences that couldhave destroyed his life. But Steve’s refusal to give in to those forces, andhis resolve to create a better life, shows a courage and resilience that is anexample for many of us to follow.” —Stedman Graham, Author, Educator Home is the place where our life stories begin. It is wherewe are understood, embraced, and accepted. It is a sanctuary of safety andsecurity, a place to which we can always return. Down in the dank basement,amid my moldy, hoarded food and worm-eaten books, I dreamed that my real home,the place where my story had begun, was out there somewhere, and one day I wasgoing to find it. Taken from his mother at age three, Steve Klakowicz lives aterrifying existence. Caught in the clutches of a cruel foster family andsubjected to constant abuse, Steve finds his only refuge in a box of booksgiven to him by a kind...

Everyone loves a good dog story! In this moving collection, you'll meet more than fifty of the most admirable, adorable dogs on earth, from a loyal canine who comforts his owner John's mother when John passes away, to a mutt who helps ease the isolation his owner Liam suffers as the result of Asperger's syndrome.Sometimes bittersweet, sometimes joyful, but always poignant, these touching true stories of canine love and devotion will touch the heart of you and every dog lover in your life.

Of course you remember how you met, your first kiss, and where you were the first time you exchanged those three little words that changed your life forever. But how often do you take the time to stop and appreciate your relationship?A Cup of Comfort for Couples pays tribute to the indefinable experience of being in love. Through fifty captivating stories written by couples in all stages—from those who have been married for years, found true love later on in life, or are just starting out in their relationship—this collection of real-life love stories captures the bitter, the sweet, and every moment in between.You'll fall head over heels for the laughter, tears, and kisses in this endearing compilation—and be inspired to show the special person in your life just how much you care.

Two Women, Two Murders . . . A stunning and suspenseful story of families, betrayal, and a community divided. Nothing is ever quite at peace on Scotlands Black Islethe Traveling people are forever at odds with the locals, the fishermen have nothing in common with the farmers, and the villages have no connection with the town. But when two deaths occur on the same day, involving the same families from the same estatethe Black Isle seems as forbidding as its name. Joanne Ross, typist at the Highland Gazette, is torn whether to take on the plum task of reporting on these murdersafter all, the woman at the center of both crimes is one of her closest friends. Joanne knows the story could be her big break, and for a woman in the mid-1950sa single mother, no lessgood work is hard to come by. But the investigation by the staff on the Gazette reveals secrets that will forever change this quiet, remote part of...

The fifth gripping and beautifully written entry in A. D. Scott’s mystery series finds star journalist John McAllister caught up in the razor-gang warfare of 1950s Glasgow.A. D. Scott’s extraordinary mystery novels have been called “beautifully written and atmospheric” (New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen), “a visit with an old friend in front of a fireplace” (Suspense Magazine), and “must-reads” (Booklist). John McAllister has come to a crossroads, torn between the stability of his life in the Highlands and the thrill of working as a renowned journalist in Glasgow at a national daily newspaper. Can he accept that this exciting new phase is over? That it is time to settle down? Before he knows it, McAllister is in the midst of a fast-paced hunt for his good friend Jimmy McPhee, who is involved in a blood feud with a murderous razor gang. With a fiercely ambitious young crime reporter,...

The third lyrical, evocative, and character-driven entry in A.D. Scott's mystery series set in the 1950s in the Scottish Highlands. As a decade of change comes to a close, murder hists close to home in a small Scottish town... On a dark, damp Sunday evening, a man taking a shortcut home sees a hand reaching out in supplication from a bundle of sacks. In an instant he knows something terrifying has happened. In the Highlands in the late 1950s, much of the local newspaper's success was due to Mrs. Smart, the no-nonsense office manager who kept everything and everyone in line. Her murder leaves her colleagues in shock and the Highland Gazette office in chaos. Joanne Ross, a budding reporter and shamefully separated mother, assumes Mrs. Smart's duties, but an intriguing stranger provides a distraction not only from the job and the investigation but from everything Joanne believes in. Beneath the Abbey Wall brilliantly evokes a place...

One of Kirkus Reviews' Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2015 Set against the grandeur of the Northern Scottish Highlands in the 1950s, here is the sixth evocative, fast-paced, suspenseful mystery in A.D. Scott's highly acclaimed series featuring beloved heroine Joanne Ross.Praised for their "well-drawn characters" (Publishers Weekly), "ingenious" plotting (Booklist, starred review), and "a terrific sense of place" (Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of Hush Now, Don't You Cry), A. D. Scott's mysteries never fail to enthrall and entertain. Now, in Scott's latest, Joanne Ross returns for a spellbinding case involving a woman accused of witchcraft in small-town Scotland. When Alice Ramsay, artist and alleged witch, is found dead in her home in a remote Scottish glen, the verdict is suicide. But Joanne Ross of the Highland Gazette refuses to believe it. As she investigates Alice's past, Joanne...

Both probing character study and a driving novel of suspense, here is a novel that will linger in your mind like mist over the Scottish glens . . .In the Highlands of 1950s Scotland, a boy is found dead in a canal lock. Two young girls tell such a fanciful story of his disappearance that no one believes them. The local newspaper staff--including Joanne Ross, the part-time typist embroiled in an abusive marriage, and her boss, a seasoned journalist determined to revamp the paper--set out to uncover and investigate the crime. Suspicion falls on several townspeople, all of whom profess their innocence. Alongside these characters are the people of the town and neighboring glens; a refugee Polish sailor; an Italian family whose café boasts the first known cappuccino machine in the north of Scotland; and a corrupt town clerk subverting the planning laws to line his own pocket.Together, these very different Scots harbor deep and troubling secrets underneath their...

A handkerchief left on a table. A young boy at an Indian circus. A Spaniard spinning on the dance floor. A pianist returning home to her first and true love. Four Doors and Other Stories sparkles with unique characters and startling images, each one walking the line between dream and reality. The twelve stories in this collection travel from the magical doors in a French teacher's hallway to a hidden copse in a gypsy camp, to a small town where a postman who delivers love letters is always losing his cap. Four Doors and Other Stories explores the nature and the breadth of love, not only in its most recognizable forms—sacrifice, forgiveness, and longing—but in its strangest: in distance, infidelity, jealousy, and isolation. Through surprising characters and varied storytelling, A.G. Billig blurs the line between dreams and the magic of reality to paint a portrait of love in all its forms.

In A Nation of Mystics, author Pamela Johnson deftly explores the youth subculture in San Francisco and Berkeley in the mid-1960s, with all its initial goodwill and naiveté—its dedication to free speech, promise to end war, commitment to racial equality, new art and music, and the exploration of spirituality based on mind-expanding hallucinogens.  In this epic story of intimacy, metaphysical exploration, and coming of age, the Haight-Ashbury becomes home to genuine and unforgettable characters: Christian Brooks, haunted by a fiery riot in India, leaves the ministry for a new path to God. Kathleen Murray arrives seeking to change the world and exchanges picket lines for a more direct method of altering consciousness. Brilliant young botany student Myles Corbet must choose between prison and betraying his oldest friend. Jerry Putnam, seeking knowledge through science, instead discovers the shamanic calling. Opposing them is drug agent Dolph Bremer, who vows to crush the...

Although seven clowns started the evening alive, only six of them still breathed by the evening’s end. And while everyone saw the murderer and knew the murderer, no one knew their name. A masked Halloween party at a haunted Elizabethan mansion for clients and counsellors of a new psychotherapy practice ends in gruesome murder … it could only happen in the bleak seaside town of Stormhaven. Once again, retired monk Abbot Peter and his irascible niece DI Tamsin Shah are called upon to solve the mystery. The answers are to be found in the mystical writings of a 14th-century Persian poet.

Both probing character study and a driving novel of suspense, here is a novel that will linger in your mind like mist over the Scottish glens . . . In the Highlands of 1950s Scotland, a boy is found dead in a canal lock. Two young girls tell such a fanciful story of his disappearance that no one believes them. The local newspaper staff—including Joanne Ross, the part-time typist embroiled in an abusive marriage, and her boss, a seasoned journalist determined to revamp the paper—set out to uncover and investigate the crime. Suspicion falls on several townspeople, all of whom profess their innocence. Alongside these characters are the people of the town and neighboring glens; a refugee Polish sailor; an Italian family whose café boasts the first known cappuccino machine in the north of Scotland; and a corrupt town clerk subverting the planning laws to line his own pocket. Together, these very different Scots harbor deep and troubling secrets underneath their polished and respectable veneers—revelations that may prevent the crime from being solved and may keep the town firmly in the clutches of its shadowy past. **

A science-fiction thriller set in Flint, Michigan, 500 years in the future, where humans can choose to die a natural death—or live forever. David is a forty-eight-year-old divorced accountant from Flint, Michigan, who finds himself drawn suddenly and without warning through the use of a virtual reality game into a world five hundred years in the future: the Planet Ethos. Flint, Michigan, still exists on Ethos, but it is a city rocked by colliding and seemingly contradictory forces. Advanced biotechnology coexists with avian species that have devolved to resemble ancient pterodactyls. Human beings are racially and religiously tolerant as never before, yet they've organized themselves along a tribal division between the Immortals and the Bereft. And Flint and Detroit are locked in a dangerous, violent conflict—a war that could annihilate the human race or secure lasting peace for the first time in history. Along with his adopted teenage son,...

Paul Rasmussen is a young ethnographer and academic recovering from prostate cancer. Broken, he retreats to the remote forests and towns of the Immitoin Valley. As an outsider, he discovers how difficult it is to know a place, let alone become a part of it. Then a drowned man and a series of encounters with the locals force him to confront the valley’s troubled past and his own uncertain future. As Paul turns his attention to the families displaced forty years earlier by the flooding of the valley to create a hydroelectric dam, his desire to reinvent himself runs up against the bitter emotions and mysterious connections that linger in the community in the aftermath of the flood. An original debut novel that is meditative and erotic, raw and exuberant in tone, Aaron Shepard’s When is a Man offers a fresh perspective on landscape and masculinity. **