Kiss It Better

She finds a wallet (not a shoe), and he’s a billionaire (not a prince), but this time, Cinderella’s turning the tables. . . . Julia Handing out samples at a grocery store isn’t exactly my dream job. Yet here I am, tray in hand and fake smile plastered on my face. The one highlight is seeing HIM. I don’t know his name, but if I did, I’d scream it during the naughty dreams he inspires. He’s crazy handsome, all confidence and an air of power. He’s never said a word to me. Never even looked in my direction. Then one day he stops to talk to me...then literally falls at my feet. I take care of him until the EMTs whisk him away. Now I have his wallet. I know where Bastian Rich lives. And I’ve found the nude photos of him online. It’s not the bruschetta on her tray he really wants to taste. . . . Bastian Something about Julia Rominger has me intrigued . . . and more than a little aroused. Maybe it’s her lush curves driving me wild. Or the fact that she has no problem telling me to go to hell. Either way, she’s seen me at my worst. Now it's time to show her my best. The best ways to touch her. The best ways to kiss her. The best ways to drive her crazy. And finally, the best ways to make her mine. Because I won’t stop until that’s exactly what she is. **This book was previously released with the title Mr. Rich and has since been updated. “[A] sexy, rollercoaster ride. With passion and conflict, Virna DePaul created an entertaining story with strong characters.” —Harlequin Junkie “[O]ne of those books that make you sigh while reading it. With characters that you can relate to and a plotline that will make you laugh and cry... the perfect book to read if you are laying out by the pool or on the beach.” —Life of a Crazy Mom “[F]ull of that standard sass that Ms. DePaul has no qualms about doling out.” —Rock Review Team “Virna DePaul does smart and sexy like no one else. [She] brings the heat, the banter and the swoon!” —New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff

Every day has its ups and downs Sometimes you giggle, sometimes you frown. But the thing to remember, the secret, is this . . . Everything feels better with the help of a KISS. If you've scraped your knee, or fallen out with your best friend, a kiss can make everything better. And kisses aren't just for children, they're for grown-ups too. So the next time you see someone you love feeling down in the dumps, just remember: a kiss is the very best gift of all! A tender expression of love, Kiss It Better is the perfect gift. Great for fans of Guess How Much I Love You.

When the story opens, Megan who is a foster mother, has two children in her charge: Anna a 12 year old who is, 'rather given to magical thinking' and Raymond who is 10 and never speaks to anyone. Both children have sad broken backgrounds; Anna (in her fourth foster home) fantasises that her debt-ridden, alcoholic mother is a famous actress and Raymond's totally unreliable mother rarely comes to see him. Sam, a frightened rabbit of a child, rejected by his family because of lameness and pebble specs is the next to join the foster family and then Brent arrives dramatically in the middle of the night - a tearaway teenager totally beyond the control of his unimaginative, intellectual father. All four of Megan's foster children have difficulties to overcome in the house high above the river, where each one of them becomes involved in some way with the mysterious river woman. It is impossible not to be totally drawn into the pattern of Brent, Anna, Raymond and Sam's lives in this imaginative and compassionate novel.

WHEN MAMA CAN’T KISS IT BETTER is the raw account of a true story that shocked the nation in 2010. Gertz was America's most hated mother when news of a decision to place her adopted child in another family broke in the media. Called out by many as an unfit mother and an evil woman who threw away her child, she was catapulted into the national and international media. Her daughter, Emily suffered from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, reactive attachment disorder, bipolar disorder, and other disorders. She had never bonded with Lori, her father or her siblings and had begun a spiral of self-destruction that often involved running into traffic and other dangerous behaviors. While Gertz recalls feeling isolated, accounts like hers are not rare. Stories like When Mama Can’t Kiss it Better are not told terribly often because of the stigma and finger pointing. She writes, “The mother is always blamed first when a child suffers from extreme behavioral disabilities.” There are millions of parents who are struggling to raise children with behavioral disabilities, who feel misunderstood, unheard, and judged, and who want to be reassured that there are others like them. With one in four Americans struggling with mental illness (NIMH) every year everyone in this country either lives with mental illness or knows someone who does. The greatest tragedy is that 60% of the adults and 50% of the children suffering from mental disorders will receive absolutely NO services or support for their mental illness. WHEN MAMA CAN’T KISS IT BETTER covers: * The adoption of their daughter Emily, early signs of trouble, their birthmother's suicide, the truth about her pregnancy and warnings about how to avoid what happened to the author and her family * Raw and honest details about her daughter's rages, suicide attempts, and hospitalizations * The turmoil that living with mental illness causes for everyone in the home and how it affects siblings and marriages * The difficulty in receiving support from physicians, educators, & clinicians * The author’s increasing desperation to find answers and help as rages and impulsivity became safety issues * Being judged by doctors, schools, and outsiders as "the problem" while her daughter collected diagnosis after diagnosis * The painful decision to place her daughter in another family and how she came to accept that she had to do the unthinkable * Parents worldwide waging verbal attacks on her since if the fault belonged to Gertz alone, it couldn't happen to anyone else Note from the Author: I spent the better part of six years writing this book, which began as the only way I could cope with what was happening in our lives. I just couldn’t believe the lack of resources there were when I reached out for them so vociferously and started documenting what was happening inside our family if not only to maintain my sanity. I am passionate about telling my story to help increase understanding of the enormous challenges parents of special needs children face in a culture that believes that motherly love and perseverance can cure all ills. For those on similar paths, the story of my journey to a sense of peace within the context of facing unrealized dreams, human limitations, broken hearts, and the unfair circumstances of life may help them find that same place of peace in the tough decisions within their own lives. I pray this book will bring attention to the need to better support parents and kids with mental illness and other invisible disabilities and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to call attention to such pressing societal issues. Keywords: Parenting, Disabilities, FASD, Mothering, Mental Illness, RAD, Bipolar, Memoir, Special Needs, Fetal Alcohol, Syndrome

A wry and outrageous chronicle of contemporary gay life.

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend. As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton's personal and business archives. Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics. • Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia • Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songs Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries. Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan. • Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more. • The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and country Add it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.

In this, my first act of sharing my thoughts, fantasies, and reflections, I must acknowledge those who have always encouraged me to pursue the craft of creative writing. It starts with the delight in the written or spoken word, and I marvel how we have come from grunting to communicate to the graceful spinning of language that can transport us to a distant place or send us hurtling into the deep recesses of our own being. Like many who write, I have kept these stories and poems tucked away far from the public eye, but now I feel it is time to bring to you what has been a joy and delight. It is not until you start writing that the ideas and observations come flowing into your consciousness. Unless you get it down, a beautiful thought or even a clever turn of phrase will be blown in the wind, never quite returning.

Real Life Mamma Mia Story although it is a heart wrenching tale of how bad people have treat a single mother that was trying to protect an innocent baby / daughter

The author received the phone call that no parent wants, informing her of the tragic accident involving her children; and in an instant life was forever changed. She opens up her heart and her journals to share the journey of grief and the foundation of her ongoing hope. This book speaks to a twofold audience - those in deep grief, and those who walk alongside, desiring to comfort in truly meaningful ways, but often not knowing how. By allowing the reader into her heart and head, she shows how a simple question or an unthinking comment can cause further stress and pain. Both griever and comforter will be deeply affected and encouraged by this raw, honest response to personal crippling grief. This book encourages all to sing a new song with God's help, no matter what we face in life.