Relationships and families: advice, topics and issues Books

Book SynopsisBy the age of nine, I will have lived in more than a dozen countries, on five continents, under six assumed identities. I’ll know how a document is forged, how to withstand an interrogation, and most important, how to disappear . . . To the young Cheryl Diamond, life felt like one big adventure, whether she was hurtling down the Himalayas in a rickety car or mingling with underworld fixers. Her family appeared to be an unbreakable gang of five. One day they were in Australia, the next in South Africa, the pattern repeating as they crossed continents, changed identities, and erased their pasts. What Diamond didn’t yet know was that she was born into a family of outlaws fleeing from the highest international law enforcement agencies, a family with secrets that would eventually catch up to all of them. By the time she was in her teens, Diamond had lived dozens of lives and lies, but as she grew older, love and trust turned to fear and violence, and her family—the only people she had in the world—began to unravel. She started to realize that her life itself might be a big con, and the people she loved, the most dangerous of all. With no way out and her identity burned so often that she had no proof she even existed, all that was left was a girl from nowhere. Surviving would require her to escape, and to do so Diamond would have to unlearn all the rules she grew up with. Wild, heartbreaking, and often unexpectedly funny, Nowhere Girl is an impossible-to-believe true story of self-discovery and triumph.Trade Review'An absolutely breathless read. Nowhere Girl is a courageous, heart-breaking, and beautifully written story of a girl doing everything in her power to protect the ones she loves.' — Paul Haggis, Academy Award-winning writer/director of Crash, Million Dollar Baby, and Casino Royale"A riveting tale of trauma and resilience." —People “Like Tara Westover’s Educated, Cheryl Diamond’s memoir tells the harrowing story of how crippling a childhood can be under the despotic narcissistic rule of a controlling father . . . Diamond has a powerful story to tell, and she tells it well, creating strong characters and settings, describing the complicated motivations of her parents and older siblings, all while conveying her yearning for ‘normalcy,’ whatever that is.” —New York Journal of Books “A shocking rollercoaster ride of a story that shares secrets of life on the run but also asks big questions about what family means and who we truly are, no matter what the name on a passport might say.” —Town Country “This memoir is proof that truth really is stranger than fiction.” —CrimeReads, “The Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2021: Summer Reading Edition” “[A] remarkable true story of growing up in a family of outlaws.”—Asheville Citizen-Times “A transfixing chronicle . . . Propulsive . . . Eloquent and bracing, Diamond’s story will haunt readers long after the last page.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “A beyond-harrowing memoir . . . Diamond's tale might just be the most mind-blowing of them all.” —Booklist, starred review “Former teen model Diamond reveals a childhood both wacky and cliff-hanging in Nowhere Girl; on the run with an outlaw family, she lived in more than a dozen countries, on five continents, under six assumed identities, by age nine.”—Library Journal “Nowhere Girl beautifully captures the intensity, darkness, and fierce love within an uncompromising outlaw family. Diamond's odyssey would leave the most adventurous among us panting to keep up.”—Alia Volz, author of Home Baked: My Mom, Marijuana, and the Stoning of San Francisco “An absolutely breathless read. Nowhere Girl is a courageous, heart-breaking, and beautifully written story of a girl doing everything in her power to protect the ones she loves.” —Paul Haggis, Academy Award-winning writer/director of Crash, Million Dollar Baby, and Casino Royale"A riveting tale of trauma and resilience." —People “Like Tara Westover’s Educated, Cheryl Diamond’s memoir tells the harrowing story of how crippling a childhood can be under the despotic narcissistic rule of a controlling father . . . Diamond has a powerful story to tell, and she tells it well, creating strong characters and settings, describing the complicated motivations of her parents and older siblings, all while conveying her yearning for ‘normalcy,’ whatever that is.” —New York Journal of Books “A shocking rollercoaster ride of a story that shares secrets of life on the run but also asks big questions about what family means and who we truly are, no matter what the name on a passport might say.” —Town Country “This memoir is proof that truth really is stranger than fiction.” —CrimeReads, “The Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2021: Summer Reading Edition” “[A] remarkable true story of growing up in a family of outlaws.”—Asheville Citizen-Times “A transfixing chronicle . . . Propulsive . . . Eloquent and bracing, Diamond’s story will haunt readers long after the last page.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “A beyond-harrowing memoir . . . Diamond's tale might just be the most mind-blowing of them all.” —Booklist, starred review “Former teen model Diamond reveals a childhood both wacky and cliff-hanging in Nowhere Girl; on the run with an outlaw family, she lived in more than a dozen countries, on five continents, under six assumed identities, by age nine.”—Library Journal “Nowhere Girl beautifully captures the intensity, darkness, and fierce love within an uncompromising outlaw family. Diamond's odyssey would leave the most adventurous among us panting to keep up.”—Alia Volz, author of Home Baked: My Mom, Marijuana, and the Stoning of San Francisco

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Book SynopsisMoms enter the world of motherhood with no sense of the impact that entry will have upon them. They need orientation and guidance to get through this bewildering maze—and The ABCs of Being Mom, with its abundance of wisdom acquired directly from the trenches of motherhood struggles, is that roadmap. In this instructive guide, Karen Bongiorno addresses the changes parenthood brings and how to manage them, the importance of being part of a supportive community and taking time for personal care and restoration, the need for equal participation from spouses or partners, and more, with a steady voice of encouragement and understanding that will get moms through even the toughest of times. The wise friend every mom needs to accompany her in her new role, The ABCs of Being Mom offers mothers everything they need to feel confident in managing motherhood so they can rid themselves of useless worry and have more time and energy to enjoy their early years of “Being Mom.”Trade Review“A kind and highly readable parenting guide.” —Kirkus Reviews “The ABCs of Being Mom is a resource-filled parenting book that stands to work for all parents.” —Foreword Reviews “The ABCs of Being Mom is an excellent guide for every new mother! It is such an easy and ‘friendly’ read that you will feel like you are talking to the experienced and trusted mom next door. As the mother of three children and a nurse-midwife who has attended the birth of hundreds of babies over the last 27 years, I have seen the apprehension as parents realize the immense responsibility that comes along with their new little treasure! The ABCs of being Mom will provide you with the comfort and confidence you need to be the best mom possible!” —Kathleen Dowd Belzer, Certified Nurse-Midwife and Nurse Practitioner; former President of the California Nurse-Midwives Association “The ABCs of Being Mom is very thoughtfully written and there are so many resource pages. This makes the book very current. There are many books out there to tell us what to expect but this book actually gives you the tools to help us and our children meet those expectations. The resources are excellent.” —Dr. Eileen Golden, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic

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Book SynopsisIt is August 1990, and Iraq has just invaded Kuwait, setting off a chain reaction of events leading up to the first Gulf War. Vicki Cody’s husband, the commander of an elite Apache helicopter battalion, is deployed to Saudi Arabia—and for the next nine months they have to rely on written letters in order to stay connected.From Vicki’s narrative and journal entries, the reader gets a very realistic glimpse of what it is like for the spouses and families back home during a war, in particular what it was like at a time when most people did not own a personal computer and there was no Internet—no iPhones, no texting, no tweeting, no Facetime. Her writing also illuminates the roller coaster of stress, loneliness, sleepless nights, humor, joys, and, eventually, resilience, that make up her life while her husband is away. Meanwhile, Dick’s letters to her give the reader a front row seat to the unfolding of history, the adrenaline rush of flying helicopters in combat, his commitment to his country, and his devotion to his family back home. Together, these three components weave a clear, insightful, and intimate story of love and its power to sustain us.Trade Review2021 CIBA Military & Front Lines Book Awards First Place Winner “A searchingly personal memoir that also provides a thrilling peek into the Gulf War.” —Kirkus Reviews “In Vicki Cody’s Fly Safe, her moving follow-up to her first memoir, Army Wife, she delivers a tour de force full of emotion, determination, grit, and hope, something our country needs now more than ever. Vicki’s engrossing writing style takes us inside her world of handling critical roles as army wife, mom, family readiness group leader, and friend to so many as her husband famously fired the first shots of the Gulf War.” —Anthony J. Tata, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Retired) and national best-selling author of Chasing the Lion “Cody gives us a front-seat ride on her journey as an Army wife, this time through journal entries and personal letters from her husband as he flew the most dangerous missions of Operation Desert Storm more than thirty years ago. Vicki weaves the correspondence into a gripping, historical narrative that chronicles the fears, tensions, high notes, and loneliness of an Army family waiting at home, all at a time when handwritten letters and sporadic phone calls were the only lifelines. A truly American tale of sacrifice, love, and commitment that, as readers will find out, isn’t over yet. An elegant and riveting work.” —Gina Cavallaro, author of Sniper: American Single-Shot Warriors in Iraq and Afghanistan “Cody has an uncanny way of giving us a vulnerable look behind the curtain of a Commander in theater, and the woman who loves him back on post. Her intimate details of ‘deployed love’ are honest and heartfelt . . . with a level of candor I’ve never before seen. Thank you for your bravery in giving us all a window to your soul, the soul of your marriage, and the soul of those who serve.” —Heidi Collins, former CNN news anchor and proud wife of USAF fighter/attack pilot, Capt. Matt Collins “With unparalleled grace and humility, Vicki Cody pours her soul out on the page for all to experience. In bearing her soul, she captures our hearts. Fly Safe is a must read for all Americans.” —Jimmy Blackmon, author of Pale Horse and Cowboys Over Iraq

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Book SynopsisLeora, a juvenile court judge, wife, mother, and daughter, is caught in the routine of work, taking care of her family and aging parents. But she’s also a second-generation Holocaust survivor. It’s an identity she didn’t understand was hers until she accidentally discovered a secret file of handwritten notes addressed to her father. A further discovery of a seemingly random WWII postcard in a thrift store sets her on a collision course with the past in this lyrical memoir about secrets hidden within secrets, both present-day and buried deep within wartime Europe.Trade ReviewPraise for Do Not Disclose:A 2021 Kirkus Reviews' Best Indie Book of the Year“This richly detailed memoir will particularly appeal to those whose imaginations are fired by genealogy and historical research. A captivating story smartly recounted.”—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED“Exceptionally well written, organized and presented… Do Not Disclose is an inherently fascinating read from beginning to end. A welcome addition to the growing library of Jewish Holocaust Literature … an extraordinary and unreservedly welcome addition to community, college and university library collections.”—Midwest Book Review, Reviewer’s Choice“Do Not Disclose is hard to put down, a haunting, poetic journey, the search for lost childhood, like a letter from someone we did not want to see anymore, nor want to open for the fear of finding inside it—a truth.”—John Bernstein, prize-winning screenwriter, playwright, and Professor of Holocaust in Film and Israeli Cinema at the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies“Leora Krygier is an exquisite writer and Do Not Disclose is her masterpiece. In lyrical prose, she recounts the bittersweet journey of excavating the truth in her own family and that of a complete stranger. When astonishing twists and turns lead her on a path she never expected to travel, she stays the course with courage and commitment and ultimately finds her way home.”—Linda Schreyer, award-winning screenwriter and author of Tears and Tequila“A remarkable personal journey and deeply moving tale of family secrets. A must-read.”—Eva Nagorski, award-winning screenwriter, director, and author of The Down and Dirty Dish on Revenge“I cannot think of an author alive who writes with the soul-stirring, poetic prose of Leora Krygier. Do Not Disclose is an incredibly touching memoir that elegantly weaves together threads from the Holocaust, family secrets, motherhood and a quest to find a soldier from a discovered postcard. I was captivated from the first page. Here is life in all of its painful, honest, joyful beauty.”—Stephanie Corbett, Head of Circulation, Holmes County District Public Library“Leora Krygier's qualities as a gifted writer and meticulous researcher are evident in her touching and candid memoir. As she searches for a stranger's roots, she explores and acquires a deeper understanding of her own family's complicated legacy.”—Meryl Ain, author of The Takeaway MenPraise for Keep Her:“Krygier's vivid, immersive prose . . . a recommended read for creative romantics everywhere.”—School Library Journal“Keep Her will engage fans of contemporary fiction. Fans of meant-to-be romance stories will not be disappointed.” —Voya Magazine“Krygier writes like she knows the characters personally. I have never read a story as filled with passion and regret as this book.” —TeenReads“This vibrantly dazzling literary cocktail on the restorative powers of love will leave reader's hearts renewed.”—Popsugar“Discussing topics such as environmental protection and adoption, Keep Her is a refreshingly honest read.”—BuzzFeed

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Book SynopsisMelissa Harris’s dream of being a mother again shatters when a fertility doctor tells her she may never have another child due to a physical anomaly in her uterus. Determined to persevere, she undergoes nine surgeries and a year of fertility treatments until she finally gets a positive pregnancy test—only to miscarry both twins within the first fifteen weeks. When what she’s decided will be her last attempt results in her finally becoming pregnant, she’s told that this baby, Sam, is also at risk. While lying in a hospital bed for six days, trying to get to the golden standard twenty-four-week gestation mark, Melissa makes a decision—she will give this baby every chance to live, no matter what it takes.One Pound, Twelve Ounces is the journey of one mother’s determination to give her micro-preemie a fighting chance, and the story of that baby’s remarkable battle to survive.Trade Review2022 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Finalist in Non-Fiction (Women’s)2022 Eric Hoffer First Horizon Book Awards Finalist2022 Eric Hoffer da Vinci Eye Award Finalist“Written with candor, Melissa Harris’s memoir One Pound, Twelve Ounces is both harrowing and joyful in covering at-risk pregnancies and the experience of mothering a micro-preemie child.”—Foreword Reviews “An articulate, poignant, and gritty family account. . .”—Kirkus Reviews“Melissa Harris, the author of One Pound, Twelve Ounces, is perhaps one of the strongest women I have ever encountered in my life. Her determination and bravery in showcasing her darkest moments and intense fears deserve to be applauded a million times over. One Pound, Twelve Ounces is the story of a mother’s love and desperate desire for her baby to have his best chance at life, even when there was only a 20% chance of hope.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review“One Pound, Twelve Ounces is a gem of a book, filled with suspense, and humor, and heart.”—Gayle Brandeis, author of The Book of Dead Birds“What Melissa went through to become a mother again and what Sam endured in his first year will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful. It’s through stories like this that we humanize one another. A must read.”—Aaron Wright, award-winning author of Thirteen Doors

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