Showing results by narrator "Amanda Ronconi" in All Categories

Niederwald is a work of short fiction from Rachel Vincent's collection Soul Screamers, Volume 4. It was originally published in the Enthralled anthology.

The authors joined forces professionally when Kathy hired Shannon to be a member of her leadership team. This book describes the transformation they led to convert operations from traditional manufacturing to a lean enterprise. Kathy (executive leader responsible for profitability) and Shannon (transformation leader) share the finer points of a comprehensive change process, the challenges and triumphs, and the real emotion involved during their quest for success.

Sixteen years ago, Sailor Mooring’s mother dove into the Atlantic Ocean and was never seen again. Now, Sailor is following her mother’s long swim to find answers to the questions that have haunted her life: Why did her mother leave? And what really happened the night Sailor’s father died? Callum Murchadh has spent the last five years banished from his home and his people. At 19, he now lives a human life in the northern islands of Scotland, where maintaining a quiet existence is crucial to keeping his secrets hidden.

Hello, grown-ups of all ages! Eclectic, bite-size bursts of advice abound in this playful guide to feeling like the grown-ups we all wanted to be as kids. From thoughts on the best way to open a champagne bottle to a short list of the kitchen tools you actually need, these tips and tricks reveal secrets that are attainable, not intimidating. Anyone can make a life upgrade using these insights alongside the traits they already have - their wits, creativity, and enthusiasm.

Emily Glass knows she’s neurotic. But she’s got it under control. Sort of. She dons compression socks when she flies (because, you know, deep vein thrombosis) and responds to people routinely overestimating her age with more Lifespin classes and less gluten. Thankfully, she also has David, the wonderful man she’ll soon call husband - assuming they can survive wedding week with her wildly dysfunctional family. Emily’s therapist mother, Marla, who’s been diagnosing her children since they were in diapers, sees their homecoming as the perfect opportunity for long-overdue family therapy sessions. Less enthused are Emily and her two siblings.

Olivia Vincent dreams of stand-up comedy stardom. Bustling around a busy Manhattan office by day and hustling from club to club by night, she can’t catch a break. Work is falling through the cracks, and after ditching a major client to make a performance, Olivia gets the boot. Determined to pursue her dreams, she snags an audition in Los Angeles for a coveted spot on late-night TV. But the only way to get there is to join seasoned stand-up Nick Leto on a cross-country road tour. She agrees on one condition—no funny business.

Can you stand the heat? It's just another night in the French Quarter's newest restaurant. And, of course, at Facile that means complete chaos - a distracted head chef, a private party full of family dysfunction, and a visit from a celebrity chef trying to poach the best in the kitchen. Served: Facile Restaurant Omnibus, Volume 1 offers a range of hot heroes.

Our media environment is in crisis. Polarization is rampant. Polluted information floods social media. Even our best efforts to help clean up can backfire, sending toxins roaring across the landscape. In You Are Here, Whitney Phillips and Ryan Milner offer strategies for navigating increasingly treacherous information flows. Using ecological metaphors, they emphasize how our individual me is entwined within a much larger we, and how everyone fits within an ever-shifting network map.

The Facile Omnibus, Volume 2, offers an enchanting assortment of spicy, sassy heroines. In Steamed, hostess Abby gives a recently dumped customer the night of his life. Pastry artist Lydia takes no lip from the world's pickiest diner in Whipped, no matter how mouthwatering he may be. In Sizzled, food critic Lakshmi just wants to sate her hunger...for food and her delicious yet frazzled ex.

A must-read for anyone who cares why so many celebs are sporting "bumps", or whether they are really "just like us", this guide - nay, rulebook - lays down the law on what you need to know to play Hollywood in a simple and concise manner.

Novelists Jonathan Moss and Sage Merriweather should be a perfect match. They share not only the same publisher but also a deep friendship full of mutual respect and encouragement. But when an ill-fated attempt at taking their relationship to the next level fails in spectacular fashion, it appears as though that once-treasured bond is doomed for good. One year later, however, the duo gets a chance to salvage their relationship when Jonathan invites Sage on a do-over road trip from Phoenix to Tacoma.

It is summer in the northwest town of Nine Mile Falls, and 16-year-old Ruby McQueen, ordinarily dubbed The Quiet Girl, finds herself hanging out with gorgeous, rich, thrill-seeking Travis Becker. But Ruby is in over her head and starts risking more and more when she’s with him.

In a southern Virginia coal-mining town in December 1942, Bone Phillips is learning to control her Gift: seeing the history of a significant object when she touches it. But one object is off limits: Uncle Ash's World War I dog tags, which hold memories of terror. When a body identified as Uncle Ash turns up inside the mines, Bone will need every ounce of courage she can summon to not only find her beloved uncle through the dog tags but prove that he isn't the thief the mine supervisor claims he is.

The single woman is having a moment. In the worlds of work, personal finances, and education, women are more successful today than ever before. When it comes to dating, they're happy to take their time exploring lots of different relationships before deciding if they want to settle down. Women today, like the generations of women before them, want to fall in love. But they want it to happen organically, at its own pace, and with the right person.

Quincy, Talia, Chloe, and Jules met in the early '90s after answering a roommate ad for a Manhattan apartment. Despite having little in common, the women became fast friends. A decade later, their lives have diverged, though their ties remain strong. But will their friendships and marriages survive? And at what price? Punchy yet tender, a high-five to sisterhood, this book will hit an emotional bull’s-eye for anyone who has had — or been — less than a perfect friend.

Witty, snarky, and (deep down) sincere, Elizabeth Paulson offers advice and encouragement for 20- and 30-somethings on their quest to find love - or at least requited lust.

Remy Billodeaux is the king of his kitchen, master of all he surveys. He is accustomed to praise and accolades, to female patrons lining up to be his "flavor of the evening". He is not accustomed to celebrity chefs, food critics, and wannabe chefs intruding on his kingdom. And Sabine Devereaux is just the cherry on the sundae of a bad night. She can't be intimidated. She can't be outsmarted or outcooked. And she's not falling for his usual flirty tricks.

Delia Montgomery is on the worst date in the history of dates. The charming, funny version of Chip that she met online was an Internet mirage, dissolving to leave her with an overcoiffed raging douche canoe. Chip seems to be following some sort of handbook entitled How to Make Your Date Want to Stab You in the Face in Three Easy Steps. Between the backhanded compliments and "helpful" suggestions, Delia is seriously considering tunneling her way through the floor of Facile with a shrimp fork.

All Jason Parker wanted was to do was throw a nice anniversary dinner for his parents at Facile, just one nice dinner that his parents didn't end up planning, cooking, or funding. It's too bad that his family seems hell-bent on ruining it. Between his older brother stealing credit for the planning, his uncle stealing the silverware, and his sister' stealing everyone's joy, it's enough to send Jason running for the comfort of Facile's bourbon supply.

Kate Ravineux expected her romantic dinner at Facile to end in a proposal from her boyfriend, Scott. She did not expect to open that sacred little blue box to find a keychain. A keychain. Stinging from the realization that her boyfriend considers her a "fixer upper" worthy only of cohabitation he has to hide from his mama, Kate ditches Scott at the table and makes a run for the elevator.