"The Palmer sisters couldn't be more different. Karen, the eldest, is the responsible one the one who got the grades, married the perfect guy, and has two wonderful, high-achieving children. Cassie is the rebellious one, who got pregnant right after high school and married the wrong man, despite her family's misgivings. And Nicole is a free, creative spirit, who's always been indulged and pampered as the baby of the family who could do no wrong. These...

"She knows what's best for everyone but herself ... With a past like hers, Jessica Clayton feels safer in a life spent on the road. She's made a career out of helping others downsize - because she's learned the hard way that the less "stuff," the better, a policy she applies equally to her relationships. But a new client is taking Jess back to Cape Sanctuary, a town she once called home ... and that her little sister, Rachel, still does. The years...

Pressures of the celebrity lifestyle weigh heavily on Dayne and Katy Matthews as they take on separate movie projects. Tabloid rumors talk of trouble and unfaithfulness between the two, but finally something drastic catches Daynes attention and makes him realize the destruction theyre playing with. But will it be too late? The Flanigan family recognizes the deep loss of the Christian Kids Theater program, and they lead a final effort to keep the theater...

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves. Cyril's son Danny and his older sister Maeve are exiled from...

As their wedding day nears, Dayne Matthews and Katy Hart are determined to keep their ceremony a secret from the paparazzi, while a terrible tragedy strikes the Flanigan family as Cody fights for his life after an alcohol overdose.

James Patterson presents two heartwarming tales about the power of a good story to open our eyes to life's possibilities. Tell me your best story: Anne McWilliams has lost everything. Her marriage fell apart so she turned to photography, only to have her world turned upside down again when a hurricane destroyed her home and all of her beloved photos. In the aftermath of the storm, Anne takes to the road to ask long-lost family, friends, and strangers...

"The Barnes family is in trouble. Dickie's once-lucrative car business is going under--but rather than face the music, he's spending his days in the woods, building an apocalypse-proof bunker with a renegade handyman. His wife Imelda is selling off her jewelry on eBay, while their teenage daughter Cass, formerly top of her class, seems determined to binge-drink her way through her final exams. And twelve-year-old PJ is putting the final touches to...

Greg Heffley tells about his summer vacation and his attempts to steer clear of trouble when he returns to middle school and tries to keep his older brother Rodrick from telling everyone about Greg's most humiliating experience of the summer.

Peter finds his demanding two-year-old brother an ever increasing problem.

Color photographs and simple text introduce what a family is and different types of families. Includes critical thinking questions and resources for further information.