New Releases by Kathryn Hewitt

Cass was a Freshman in college when she was attacked in a park and sexually assaulted by an unknown assailant. As she lay in a hospital bed, physically recovering from being brutalized, she began an even more daunting journey: that of her psychological healing. With the support and companionship of her nurse turned confidant, and her therapist, Cass finally begins to see the possibility of a light on the other side of what feels like an infinity of darkness. Dealing with the effects of her trauma proves to be a daily struggle, one filled with triggers and fear, and debilitating anxiety. Reconciling her internal conflict as she examines her choice to bargain for the future, while attempting to own the loss of so much, still feels nearly impossible. Despite the daunting task of simply living, Cass is tired of being held hostage by her attacker. Deciding that she refuses to let him control her life any longer, Cass feels that she is ready to return to school. As she develops an unlikely friendship with another student and finds herself romantically drawn to a man who seems to be everything that she could dream of in a partner, she begins to discover herself. The simple act of having ventured out of her self-isolation feels like a huge step in Cass'' healing process, so hanging with her new friend Harrison, and admiring Charlie from afar, seems both remarkable and satisfyingly normal. As Cass embarks on her road to wellness, taking small steps out of her comfort zone proves to be rewarding, reinforcing her belief that surviving her attack was worth the trade-off of all that had been taken from her. But when Cass'' world is turned upside down, again, reconciling her progress with the harsh realities of the world threatens to be too much. Only by relying on her own rediscovered strength, can Cass fight her way back to the life that she had only just begun to realize she deserves.

The star of the basketball team, Calen Havenfield had everything going for him. School came easily, and the only person who rivaled him for attention from the opposite sex, was his own girlfriend. Right when things seemed like they couldn''t get any better, all of it disappeared, one night on a rainy road. His life irreparably changed after the accident that killed his two friends, Calen is left wishing that he too hadn''t survived that night. As if dealing with loss isn''t hard enough, the tragedy also resulted in his development of new extraordinary abilities. Trying to reconcile his new ''gifts,'' and an existence that he no longer recognizes, Calen wonders if he''ll ever be able to live a normal life again. When his grandfather decides that a change is in order, a new town seems like it might be exactly what Calen needs. All that Calen wants is to fly under the radar, play basketball, and protect his most guarded secret...until he meets Tara. Calen''s world is flipped upside down by a little golden-haired girl, who manages to make him feel things that he''s never felt before, and allowing him to dream that he might one day have a chance at happiness.

Tara and Calen have finally chosen themselves and their own happiness, turning their back on Calen''s gifted Community and its oppressive and unwanted expectations. Calen remains the desired leader of choice, but Tara has finally convinced him to put himself first and choose a life with her, despite the danger that this poses. United, at last, the two have begun a life together...as normal of a life as possible between two people in love, when one of them has extraordinary abilities. Discovering a world where the mundane is what matters, and rediscovering each other, Tara and Calen have finally found their place in the world. As school wraps up for the summer, all that they''ve been ignoring is once again pushed to the forefront, and Calen convinces Tara to accompany him to spend their break down south...with Calen''s grandfather. Things have been going so well for the couple that they feel like this concession, in order to keep them protected, is the right decision.Until, it''s not. Tara''s strength and loyalty is tested, causing Calen to wonder if they will ever be able to live the life that the two want so desperately. After an ultimate attempt at the complete annihilation of all that Tara and Calen have fought so hard to achieve, they launch a final assault against those who wish for them to forever be apart. In this conclusive chapter of the Growing Up Ashton series, Tara and Calen must completely commit themselves to each other and their battle against evil, and hope that love is enough to trump all.

Tara is trying to move on from Calen, to move past what they''d shared, but it is definitely easier said than done. Her friends are vocally in favor of her letting him go, so when Tyler, a dark haired cutie from the community college enters her life, Tara decides that it is finally time to take the plunge. Upfront about his interest in her, Tyler''s relaxed nature and light heartedness is appealing to Tara after so much intensity. Her mom is still recovering, Beth and her baby have moved out, and Tara and Will are all that''s left of the Ashtons. Will''s support comes hand in hand with his arrogance, but the siblings have managed to strike a balance where they only infuriate each other every other day. High School is still a drag, and Tara''s girls are the only light in her otherwise depressing life. Calen''s gift for sensing her happiness, or lack there of, causes a deeper entanglement as he re-emerges in her life. In hopes of justifying their star-crossed reality, Calen attempts to explain that he is deeply entrenched in a community of people who are gifted...and extremely possessive of those who are exceptional, like him. But when Tara is blindsided with information about her father''s whereabouts, she realizes that sometimes people leave you in more ways than one. Despite his reservations, Calen can''t seem to stay away, complicating her budding relationship with Tyler and her attempt to finally let Calen go.When Prom night ends in disappointment and terror, Tara discovers that relying on romantic distractions is not, in fact, the best way to "move on." In the aftermath of this revelation, Calen''s Grandfather drops a horrifying bomb on Tara, forcing her to realize that her dreams of a relationship with Calen might really never be. Torn between the love of her life, whom she can''t be with, but can''t live without, Tara must learn to stand on her own two feet.

Tara has had to learn to live without her better half...or at least she''s working on it. Ending things with Calen was the right thing to do, but that doesn''t make living with the gaping loss of him in her life any easier. Inevitably, life marches on, regardless of Tara''s own personal happiness. Despite her efforts, Tara and Calen''s worlds continue to collide. Following an accident, Tara is reminded of just how important Calen is to her, and just how far she''ll go to keep him happy...something she feels is only possible if they''re apart. Getting her wish, though, finally forces Tara to admit that she can''t let him go. But now, the tables have turned and Calen''s new life no longer has room for her. Tara learns that his secret ability is only the tip of the iceburg, as she''s pulled into a dark world where Calen''s grandfather is the puppetmaster, and Calen''s only hope of protecting Tara is by keeping her away. As her home life continues to unravel, her mother makes a decision that destroys what little family Tara still has. Luckily, with her best friends and her infuriatingly loveable brother Will by her side, Tara manages to draw on her inner strengths, discovering that when life seems impossible, it''s time to let go.

Tara thinks she remembers when life was easy. Well, life is never easy for a seventeen year old, but the drama of high school was certainly better than this. With her dad gone from their lives, Tara has to pick up the pieces and make sure that the remaining Ashtons don''t completely fall apart. Her mom is useless, her brother obnoxious and infuriating, and her sister is too wrapped up in her own life to be of any help. When Calen enters her life, the "Hot New Guy," as he''s known among Tara''s friends, a glimmer of hope arrives with him. But Tara knows better than anyone that good things don''t necessarily happen to good people.Maybe sometimes they do. Tara can''t believe her luck that such an amazing person would show interest in her, normal and boring as she feels. But Calen does. Along with romance, Calen also brings heartache with his joy. Suddenly the rules of life don''t apply. Calen has a gift, and it''s not just his skill on the Basketball court. A New Adult romance, with a paranormal twist, Reading Tara reminds us that love isn''t always enough...especially when the one you love caries a burden that can only be described as a curse.

Eve learned at a young age that those who were supposed to take care of you, weren''t guaranteed to do so. After suffering the ultimate betrayal, 17 year old Eve finds herself lost and with nowhere to turn. Desperation can lead to losing yourself, but for Eve, she had nothing left to lose. Those she loved abandoned her, and the one who didn''t, well his was a love she didn''t want. In a misguided attempt to right an atrocious wrong, Eve finds herself the villain, and at a crucial crossroads. Definitely at rock bottom, she is forced to become an unwilling participant in a state-mandated facility, designed to rehabilitate convicted juveniles who have been diagnosed with mental illness. Eve fits into these categories perfectly, but she doesn''t want rehabilitation, and detests this offer of redemption. Numb and utterly lost, Eve meets the handsome and mysterious Jack, a fellow "Camper". Against her best judgment, she is befriended by the quirky and overly enthusiastic Leia. Despite her desire to never be close to anyone again, and her best efforts, Eve can''t seem to alienate Leia and Jack. But loving Jack would require Eve to learn to love her most hated enemy, herself. Sometimes having nothing to lose helps us gain everything we thought never we''d get.

Learn about the real lives of the daring and adventurous people who have sailed the seas, explored new worlds, and rocketed into space . . . You might know that Columbus discovered America, Lewis and Clark headed west with Sacajawea, and Sally Ride blasted into outer space. But what do you really know about these bold explorers? What were they like as kids? What pets or bad habits did they have? And what drove their passion to explore unknown parts of the world? With juicy tidbits about everything from favorite foods to first loves, Lives of the Explorers reveals these fascinating adventurers as both world-changers and real people. The entertaining style and solid research of this series of biographies have made it a favorite with families and educators for twenty years. This new volume takes readers through the centuries and across the globe, profiling the men and women whose curiosity and courage have led them to discover our world. Includes color illustrations and maps “Readers will enjoy delving into the exploits of intrepid explorers across time, and, literally, space.” —Kirkus Reviews

Luke Davis disappeared from Ruth''s life nearly four years ago, abandoning her and their unborn son. Alone and only sixteen, Ruth felt certain her renewed faith would carry her through whatever storms were certain to come her way. But brewing just below the surface of her adolescent smile, there was one storm Ruth would never see coming. When Luke walked away, he callously left behind unworthiness he''d so cunningly instilled in Ruth. Now, as she enters her second year of college, a devalued mindset remains carefully hidden behind the majestic clouds of an approaching storm. Sabotaging a future with James, the one man who accepted and loved her, Ruth endures the pelting rains as the storm begins. But just when she begins to feel like the storm is ending, a sexual assault hurls her viciously into a deeper depression than she''s ever known.Feeling hopeless and abandoned by everyone around her, Ruth embraces the violent winds setting course a path of her own self-destruction. With the storm raging and the last strands of her faith slowly unraveling, Ruth must break free from her circumstances and find the grace that has saved her once before.

How do you know, at fifteen, what love and affection really mean? Ruth learned all too soon that love is commitment, and affection has a price. But who will ultimately make the commitment, and who will pay the price? At fifteen, Ruth thought she had her life planned out. That is until she met Luke, a charming new cadet from the local military school. After entering into a seemingly harmless teenage romance, Luke’s possessive attitude and subtle remarks begin to undermine Ruth’s confidence, sending her into an emotional tailspin. A beautiful young girl is suddenly lost in a grown-up world, trying desperately to hang on to a love she thought would last forever. Shattered dreams and hopeless tears become the bricks that build walls around Ruth; yet just below her broken heart, a beautiful vessel is being formed. Join Ruth on her wedding day, five years later, as her childhood friend helps her journey back to face the demons of her past.

Three plucky dogs decide to break the rule of "No Dogs Allowed," borrow their owners'' clothing, and go to the deli, the beauty salon, and the park. But they make one big mistake at the public pool. Full color.

Helped by her father, a young girl prepares a flower garden as a birthday surprise for her mother.

Helped by her father, a young girl prepares a flower garden as a birthday surprise for her mother.

A young man believes his sweetheart and her family are the silliest people in the world until he meets three others who are even sillier.