"Callie Duflay just isn't like the rest of her family. While they've built white collar lives, she prefers getting her hands dirty by working with children and local California causes. When Callie learns that a beloved piece of untouched property in her town of Otter Bay may soon be developed, she confronts the architect assigned to the project"--Publisher.

"When Kathleen Deane's husband, Tom, tells her he's no longer happy with his life and their marriage, Kathleen is confused. Who said anything about being happy? They live in Kansas, for goodness sake! But with Tom off finding himself, Kathleen starts to think about what she wants. And her thoughts lead her to a small beach community on the east coast, a town that has always looked lovely in the Christmas cards her childhood friend Josie sends every...

"The crumbling building" tells the stories of the developers in Beijing, each dreams of becoming rich overnight. Two conglomerates came to the scene, one a state venture, another a private investment group. These are the stories of their trials and triumphs - mostly trials.

"In 1971, a property speculator named Harley Mann begins recording his life story onto a reel-to-reel machine. Reflecting on his childhood in the early twentieth century, Harley recounts that after his father's sudden death, his family migrated down to Florida's swamplands--mere miles away from what would become Disney World--to join a community of Shakers. Led by Elder John, a generous man with a mysterious past, the colony devoted itself to labor,...

"Sometimes you have to become what you hate to protect what you love. Danny Ryan is rich. Beyond his wildest dreams rich. The former dock worker, Irish mob soldier and fugitive from the law is now a respected businessman - a Las Vegas casino mogul and billionaire silent partner in a group that owns two lavish hotels. Finally, Danny has it all: a beautiful house, a child he adores, a woman he might even fall in love with. Life is good. But then Danny...

Arthur Bryant and John May of London's Peculiar Crimes Unit investigate when an elderly woman is found dead inside her own home with her lungs filled with river water, and they encounter a killer with a unique motive for murder.

"At Cape Three Points on the beautiful Ghanaian coast, a canoe washes up at an oil rig site. The two bodies in the canoe--who turn out to be a prominent, wealthy, middle-aged married couple--have obviously been murdered; the way Mr. Smith-Aidoo has been gruesomely decapitated suggests the killer was trying to send a specific message--but what, and to whom, is a mystery. The Smith-Aidoos, pillars in their community, are mourned by everyone, but especially...

Roy Eberhardt has moved with his family so often he literally has lost count of the number of times he has had to changed schools. Roy ought to be used to being the new kid at school by now, but making the switch from Montana to Florida proves to be a major challenge. While Roy quickly becomes the target of school bully, he is befriended by Beatrice Leep, a spunky girl with enough nerve to stand up to Dana, and her brother Mullet Fingers. Beatrice...